Council tax frozen for residents in Harlow
It'll be frozen for three years
Harlow residents won't pay as much council tax as other places in Essex for the next three years.
Harlow's Conservative-led Council is also giving residents a one-off reduction of £50 from this year's council tax bill.
They say the money will instead be sourced by releasing £1.3 million from council reserves, but that there'll be no cuts to services as a result.
The freeze will last until 2025.
Labour have dismissed the proposals as "reckless", saying people will still have to pay more as Essex County Council and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner are expected to raise their shares of council tax.
Leader of the Council Russell Perrin said in a statement: “This budget will deliver money off Harlow Council’s share of the Council Tax bill – a reduction of £55 for those who pay Council Tax.
"Never has Harlow Council taken money off a Council Tax bill in this way.
"We are giving something back to the residents we serve, as well as investing in their priorities.”
Labour group leader Chris Vince responded, saying: “The Conservatives have been caught out by their own election pledge feeling bound to cut council tax, albeit a year later than they promised, at a time when cuts from central government to local government finances are making local councils feel the pinch.
“The Conservative’s reckless proposals will leave a potential black hole in Harlow Council’s budget.”
The proposals will be discussed by the Cabinet on January 27 and by the full council on February 3.
The total council tax bill for Harlow residents will be decided at a special full council meeting on February 24.