Camden plans council tax increase to ‘protect frontline services’

Meyrem Hussein Friday, January 11, 2013
12.00 PM

Council tax in Camden could go up in April despite government incentives to freeze it.

Camden Council is currently planning next year’s budget based on a council tax rise of two per cent from April, which would net the council an extra £1.6million.

But the government is offering the council £1million to freeze the tax.

Camden Council’s ruling Labour group will consider the proposed increase at a meeting on January 28, ahead of the decision in February.

Cllr Theo Blackwell, cabinet member for finance, said: “Local government cannot carry on freezing council tax and protecting frontline services. That £1.6million a year is what we have cut from the library budget.

He added: “The government incentive is a gimmick. It would only be for two years and then we would be in a worse position.”