Woking Borough Council's Conservative Administration has confirmed it will be recommending a second successive Council Tax freeze for Woking after the executive committee agreed a zero increase on Thursday.
The Administration froze Council Tax in Woking last year and pledged in its 2011 manifesto to keep Council Tax as low as possible in 2012/13. It has done so by freezing the Woking Borough Council share – the only part it controls – without cutting front line services and while maintaining previous levels of voluntary sector grants.
During the debate on Thursday night, council leader John Kingsbury said he was delighted with Woking’s financial management this past year as the council had generated increased income from assets and economic activity in the town while avoiding having to raise fees and charges.
“While other councils have struggled to make ends meet we in Woking have had a really positive year,” said John. “Obviously I’m delighted to be able to announce a freeze in Woking’s share of Council Tax and that will rightly grab the headlines as another of our manifesto pledges delivered.
“But there is plenty of other good news underneath that headline. Our reserves are back up to £3million a year earlier than planned, the assets that this Conservative administration invested in are providing dividends and increasing economic activity has meant a freeze in charges, for example in Woking’s car parks.
“I would like to thank the officers of the council for their hard work in delivering our policies, which are the ones the people of Woking voted for last May. I hope that 2012 can be as successful and believe under a Conservative administration it certainly will be."