Bournemouth Council will be recommending a freeze in Council Tax for the second year running at the next Cabinet meeting on 15 February 2012.

Councillor John Beesley, Deputy Leader of Bournemouth Borough Council said: “During this continuing difficult economic time it’s important that we try as hard as possible to relieve the burden on local taxpayers. We are recommending that Council Tax is frozen again this year, taking advantage of the government’s Council Tax Freeze Grant. However, this grant is only in place for the coming financial year and as a result, our budget will be under ongoing pressure when that grant ends, as some £2 million will be removed from the Council’s budget at that time.”

Government grant and Council Tax provide Bournemouth Council with an income of just over £140 million a year to spend on services for residents. Despite a cut in government grant of £5.87 million (8.3%), on top of this year’s cut of £12.33 million (14.9%), there will be no cuts in front line services for the residents of Bournemouth.

Councillor Beesley, added: “We continue to work hard to make sure that Bournemouth Council is in a strong financial position. Due to careful financial planning and despite reduced income and less government funding, we have been able to balance our budgets. Services such as care for children, the elderly and the vulnerable are facing higher numbers and are coming under greatly increased financial pressure. However, we will ensure that the Council continues to fully fund these services to meet the demands of Bournemouth residents.

“Our ongoing efficiency programme has already produced savings of more than £32 million since 2007. The partnership with Mouchel is set to deliver savings that will put the Council in the best possible position to protect and positively transform frontline services in the future. Thanks to this ongoing work, we will continue to invest in areas that are important to residents such as tackling anti-social behaviour, cleaning up our streets and neighbourhoods, improving roads and pavements and supporting jobs in the local economy.”