LIB DEMS PLAN LOWEST EVER COUNCIL TAX FOR SHEFFIELD

1.00.00pm GMT Wed 7th Jan 2009

Local people in Sheffield will be getting better value for their money from the Council in the year ahead, in plans set out today by the Lib Dems. Council Tax will be set at just 2%, which is believed to be amongst the lowest in the country and is well below the current rate of inflation of 3%. The aim is to work towards no increase in Council Tax as soon as possible.

Lib Dem Council Leader Cllr Paul Scriven explained, "We have a mandate to look after people's Council Tax wisely. We promised we would look at ways to cut waste and bureaucracy. With this budget, we are fulfilling that promise."

"This is a difficult time for the economy, but despite that not only are we delivering the lowest Council Tax rise in the country, and protecting the front line services that people use every day, but we're also providing new and expanded services for the people of Sheffield."

"We are repaying the trust that the people of Sheffield have placed on us. And this is only the start of what we will do for Sheffield."

The new or enhanced services include:

> a new city-wide out of hours service to tackle noise problems and associated anti-social behaviour;

> keeping the ambassador patrols at Kelham Island and St Vincent's and having more ambassadors to cover Devonshire Green;

> thousands more private homes being eligible for free loft and cavity wall insulation through the Affordable Warmth scheme;

> assisting local businesses and residents to get rid of graffiti; and

> free admission to Sheffield's industrial museums. Visits to Kelham Island Museum will be free in the summer and entry to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet will be free all year round.

The savings the Council is making will be made through some job losses (approximately 100), due to less income coming in because of the economic downturn, and other ways it has found to save money and become more efficient. These include producing the Your Sheffield magazine at a lower cost and streamlining the costs of quangos such as Sheffield First. Giving people who receive social care help from us more choice, control and flexibility about the help they receive (known as Self Directed Support) will also reduce the Council's costs.

Cllr Scriven added: -

"There has been a lot of sweat, blood and tears but we have been determined to deliver our promise. This is only the start and the aspiration is to get the council tax rise down to zero per cent in a few years time.

"I am particularly delighted that, even though we have made a lot of savings, we have also been able to expand some new services. It's about delivering on frontline services with the minimum amount of management."

"The job losses will be across the board but when people open their front door they won't see the difference in frontline services."