No Council Tax Increase for 2012-13 Proposed 31 January 2012

North Devon Council is recommending not to increase the level of Council Tax for its services in 2012-13.

The recommendation will be put forward on the Tuesday 7 February meeting when members will hear the latest financial forecast for 2011-12 and the council's expected position as it goes into 2012-13.

Executive members are also due to agree a recommendation that other charges such as car parking charges remain at current levels.

Council Leader Councillor Brian Greenslade said: 'Like everyone else in this current economic climate, the council has had to make some difficuly decisions.

In the last financial year, we reduced our net budget by £1.9 million and we've identified further potential savings and other measure to plug the £1.4 million gap in the council's budget for 2012-13.

'So despite facing grant cutbacks from central government, we are able to balance the district's budget for the next financial year, without the need to increase what residents pay to North Devon Council in council tax.'

The recommendations will be put to Full Council on 22 February 2012 and the tax levels for 2012-13 confirmed.

Council tax bills for 2012-2013 will then be sent to households at the beginning of March.