Birmingham City Council to increase council tax by 1.9 per cent

Feb 13 2009 by Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM council tax payers face an inflation- busting 1.9 per cent increase for the fourth year running.

The city council’s ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has again stuck to its pledge to keep increases low.

But city leader Mike Whitby today insisted that, despite the low increase, spending on frontline services, such as social care and waste collection, would rise by £21.8 million.

Spending priorities for the 2009/10 financial year would see more cash invested in improving council houses and schools and a focus on big projects such as building the new Library and New Street Station.

Coun Whitby (Con, Harborne) said the rise would be one of the lowest proposed by any council in the UK and means that Birmingham has the lowest average rises of any major city in the UK.

He said: “In the current tough economic times, I am proud to present a budget to the people of Birmingham that yet again underlines our commitment to easing the tax burden on all households.

“It proves we are doing all that we can to help those with low-paid or fixed incomes, and the pensioners of the city.

“Despite the pressures of an almost unprecedented national economic situation, we are keeping our promise to deliver long-term value for money and helping the citizens of Birmingham to manage their own expenditure in these challenging times.”