Solihull Council freezes council tax for fifth year running

Solihull Council has agreed its budget for 2015/16 – which includes a decision to freeze council tax for the fifth year running.

At the Full Council meeting on 26th February, councillors agreed a budget of £169.615 million. The Band D council tax figure, excluding police, fire and parish precepts, will remain at £1,173.72.

The Council also approved a new Medium Term Financial Strategy up to 2018 which is designed to ensure that council priorities continue to be met against anticipated financial constraints.

Councillor Bob Sleigh, Leader of the Council, said: “I am pleased to be able to recommend that we freeze council tax in Solihull for the fifth successive year.

“Along with the rest of the public sector, the Council faces a massive challenge in the next few years to deliver public services with a much lower level of funding than previously.

“However, these are also exciting times for Solihull, with managed growth in the borough’s economy increasing the income we generate locally. Furthermore, the Council remains in a sound financial position, with a balanced budget and sufficient reserves to manage the anticipated budget risks over the next few years.

“Our priority as a council is to improve and enrich our residents’ lives and to continue to provide essential services at a consistently high standard and make the best use of our resources by aligning them to the needs of the people of Solihull.”

Read more: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/ArtMID/820/ArticleID/684/Solihull-Council-freezes-council-tax-for-fifth-year-running