News

COUNCIL TAX RISE SET BY KCC

Kent County Council last night set a council tax increase of 4.75% for the year 2006/7.

Leader of the council Paul Carter said: "We have been successful in achieving substantial efficiencies, particularly in administration functions such as finance and personnel to keep the council tax down. This year we have had to make further £25m of savings and preserve quality services.

"Our record o­n this front was recognised by a leader article in The Times o­n Monday, which said: 'Responsibility for the unacceptable level of council tax rests primarily with central government. Whitehall is fond of heaping extra responsibilities o­n to local authorities while being less than helpful in meeting the price of such expenditure'. It went on to say: 'There are not many councils - Kent is one of the few - that can claim to be at the cutting edge of cost control or worthwhile policy innovation'."

Mr Carter said: "We have embarked upon some of the most innovative schemes in the country. Telehealth, where people with chronic conditions can be monitored in the comfort of their own homes, rather than spend time constantly travelling to and from hospital or being admitted, is one. This helps the patient and money saved can be ploughed back into front-line services.

"We have done everything possible to eke out an extremely difficult government settlement and ensure that quality services are maintained and where possible improved. We will press the government very hard o­n the funding front for next years settlement in an endeavour to keep council taxes as low as possible."