Town Council Freeze Budget

Hertford Town Council is set to freeze its portion of the Council Tax bill for a third year followijg a meeting of the Council’s Finance, Policy & Administration Committee last night.

Whilst District and County Councils are required by the Government to freeze their bills for a second year, Town Councils are not subject to these restrictions but, in contrast to the larger councils, Town Councils do not receive any financial contribution to their running from the Government so must raise all their funding locally.

Chairman of the Finance, Policy and Administration Committee, Cllr Chantal Geall, said: "Hertford Town Council has continued to focus on strong financial management, enabling us for the third year running to freeze our portion of the Council Tax bills. Careful budgeting is ensuring that money is spent in ways that will protect services and enhance our community, including support for our town centre, good stewardship of the town’s allotments and cemetery and support for the running of the Hertford Museum which continues to inform residents and visitors about the town’s past.".

Projects and services to benefit from funding for the coming financial year will include support for the town centre, including continuing to fund a Town Centre Co-ordinator, providing a Town Development Fund and ongoing funding of the hanging baskets and Christmas lights. The Town Council’s popular events programme at Hertford Castle will also be maintained. There will also be a small increase in the grant made to Hertford Museum, with the Town Council’s being its principal funder.

The Budget will go to the meeting of the Full Town Council on 16th January 2012 for final approval.