A SMALL increase in council tax of just 7 pence per week for the average band D home, which is equivalent to £3.89 per year, has been agreed by West Devon Borough Council to help protect frontline services.

The council is facing a budget gap of around £560,000 for 2015/16 due to a cut in funding from central government, and a further reduction is expected next year.

At a meeting of the council last Tuesday, (February 17), councillors voted to increase the West Devon share of the council tax for an average band D property to £208.39 for the coming financial year — a rise of 1.9%.

Councillors decided not to accept the Government's offer of a council tax freeze grant which is equivalent to a one per cent increase in council tax — around £42,000. 

Cllr Philip Sanders, the leader of the council, said: 'Our aim is to secure the future of services to the public. But the money being offered by the Government is only guaranteed for one year and is not adequate.

'If the council accepted the Government's freeze grant the impact would be felt indefinitely and we have to consider the longer term.

'We have good financial management at this council. An external audit report by Grant Thornton, which is going before the council's audit committee next week, praises the authority for its long term financial planning and vision.'

Pioneering transformational plans are already underway by the council to save  £1.6-million a year by 2017 through adopting the latest technology and developing a new way of delivering services with a smaller workforce. 

By 2017/18, West Devon Borough Council will have had to find savings of £2-million from a budget of £8-million.

Cllr Sanders added: 'We recognise that even the smallest increase to council tax bills is regrettable at a time when many family budgets are being squeezed.

'However, in these difficult times we are working hard to do our best for residents and businesses.'

West Devon Borough Council takes only 12p in every pound of the total council tax collected, with the rest of the money going to Devon County Council, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service along with town and parish councils.

Devon County Council last Thursday agreed an increase of 1.99 percent in its council tax bills. The increase will support spending of more than £500-million, including a reprieve for threatened school lollipop patrols and extra road gritting.

The increase means an average band D tax payer will now pay £1,161.27 for county council services, up £22.68 on last year.

But a 14 percent cut in government funding means that at least £34 million will need to be shaved off the county's spending plans in the coming year.

The council says it will continue to lobby the Government for extra funding, claiming that residents in rural areas like Devon receive some £153 less in government support than urban residents, and pay £79 more in council tax.

The county's finance cabinet member John Clatworthy said: 'The challenge is to deliver services to Devon residents with less resources.

'If we received average national funding that would be an additional £23-million. And under the public health heading, Devon is the seventh lowest funded authority at £39 a head, against an average of £51.'