Council sets budget for coming year

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has set its budget for providing essential services at £10.8m for the coming year.

A Council Tax increase of 2.9% has also been agreed - setting Band D payments at £146.30 for 2018/19 which equates to a rise of eight pence per week.

Council Leader, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, said: "In setting the budget for the coming year the Council is, as ever, extremely mindful of the need to spend every penny wisely and responsibly.

"Through prudent financial management and reviewing all areas of service delivery we are continuing to work hard to minimise the impact of this ongoing period of austerity on our front line services and ensure we can continue to provide the quality services our residents and businesses have every right to expect.

"We have not increased Council Tax for eight years prior to this whilst safeguarding, and improving, our services but we have reached the point where we can no longer maintain this. The decision to raise the Council Tax is not one we take lightly but the fact is that public finances remain constrained.

"I am, however, confident that the Council is in a strong position - we have a proven track record of innovation in the delivery of our services including our Alliance with our neighbouring authority in High Peak which continues to realise significant savings to the public purse.

"Our agreed efficiency and rationalisation programme - which keeps our contracts and assets under review so that they are working for the good of the district - and plans to maximise opportunities to generate additional income will ensure we have resilience in the years to come."

The District Council collects Council Tax on behalf of all local authorities but only spends 10% of the total.

This expenditure is used to provide services including affordable housing, waste and recycling, street cleaning, leisure centres, parks maintenance, support for local businesses, crime prevention activities, benefits services and elections.