No increase in council tax bills

COUNCIL tax payers in South Gloucestershire are expected to have their bills frozen for a second year running.

But they have been given advance notice that a rise is on the cards for the following year, with demands likely to increase by 2.5 per cent.

Householders benefited from the first freeze in the Tory-run authority's history during the current tax year and council leaders want to repeat the action when the next annual bills fall in April.

If agreed by the full council, South Gloucestershire's share of the tax for band D properties would stay at £1,245.20, before parish precepts and contributions towards the police and fire services are added on.

The freeze will only be possible with the receipt of a £2.8 million Government grant but bills will then start to creep up as the council faces having to make more savings while Government funding goes down.

Dave Perry, the council's deputy chief executive and chief financial officer, said a total of £43 million had to be cut by 2014-15, of which £24 million over the next three years had already been agreed.

Greater efficiency, cutting waste and duplication, along with changes in the way the council works will contribute to those savings but further job cuts may also be needed.

Mr Perry said: "It's reasonable to assume we will see changes to staffing levels but it's difficult to put a figure on that at the moment."

The council currently has about 10,000 staff, about 7,000 of whom are employed in education, including teachers. It has already cut staffing by about 300 and another 30 or so senior management posts have gone.

Opening a new office in Yate also allowed the council to give up its leased premises and a further review of office space is examining the future of its Thornbury premises in Castle Street.

The proposals will be considered by the cabinet next Monday before going to the full council on February 22.