LIB DEMS DELIVER THE LOWEST COUNCIL TAX INCREASE THAT SHEFFIELD HAS EVER SEEN

12.00.00am GMT Mon 9th Mar 2009

The controlling Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council have delivered a Council Tax increase of 1.95%, the lowest that Sheffield has ever seen, at Friday's budget setting meeting in the Town Hall. Lib Dems have passed a budget that also sees extra investment in areas that are important to local people such as dealing with anti-social behaviour, tackling climate change and improving opportunities for local people to recycle.

The 1.95% increase is lower than the previously reported increase of 2%. Lib Dems have been working around the clock to make the increase as low as possible.

Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Council, said:-

"This budget delivers on more of the things we said we would do whilst we were in opposition. It delivers the lowest ever Council Tax increase, which is vital at a time when many local families are coming under financial pressure as a result of the recession."

"But we are still able to improve services in the areas important to local people because we have got tough on the waste and bureaucracy built up during Labours time in control of the Council."

"I hope that local people can see the positive changes we have made in the Town Hall since the last local elections despite having to work with a budget set by Labour. But we know that the work has only just begun and much more has to be done if local people are to get the kind of modern, efficient and effective Council they deserve. Over the coming months the local Lib Dems will be working hard to try and achieve that."

Specific action in the proposed budget includes: -

· the continuation of the popular 101 anti-social behaviour hotline number that was under threat after the Government withdrew funding;

· the provision of an out of hours noise nuisance across Sheffield;

· extra recycling opportunities for local people, the scale and type of which will be decided by the consultation with local people which is due to report back shortly;

· action to reduce Sheffield's carbon emissions in order to contribute towards the battle against climate change, including providing free insulation for homes, advice on how people can reduce their energy bills and providing a climate change fund for local communities to reduce carbon emissions;

· piloting community justice panels, which aim to reduce low level crime and anti-social behaviour by ensuring that the victim has confidence in the justice system and the perpetrator understands the impact of their actions;

· continuing the decent homes programme so that all council homes are brought up to the 'Sheffield decent homes standard';

· the commitment to find the investment needed for the start of the 2011 Highways PFI that will improve every street and road in Sheffield;

· the role out of Community Assemblies next year which will boost the role of local councillors and empower communities across Sheffield to start making decisions for themselves on things like street cleaning, libraries and parks.