Council Tax to be frozen or reduced: CONFIRMED

In a leak before the Budget Speech at 12:30 today it has been officially confirmed that Council Tax will be FROZEN or REDUCED. Julian Bray writes: This effectively kills off PCC Cllr. Burtons bid to rename Neighbourhoods as Areas as the Neighbourhood Council Review going through various stages, requires substantial new money to put a layer of new officers in post and to embark on a 'major media launch.'

Cllr. Burton already chided for failing spell out the financial costs involved, in his verbose report, was also told by the Cabinet that: "He would NOT be getting a blank cheque from the City Council."

For a copy of the complete report (ask for both parts 1 & 2 Neighbourhood Council Review) telephone Adrian Chapman, PCC Head of Neighbourhood Services on 01733 863887.

Cllr. Burton has already been told there is no new money and that his proposals if adopted would have to be financed out of existing budgets. The freeze in council tax will effectively reduce the overall monies available for non essential presentational projects so this half-baked poorly researched junket would hopefully seem to be coming to a sticky end.

Our considered view, it has little merit and no one at neighbourhood (ie local) level or with neighbourhood (ie Neighbourhood Watch) in the title of their organisation was approched for an input into this exercise. The report contains the full list of those who were approached.

The bear? His name is Bungle from TV's Magpie.......

(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch, Peterborough, UK Tel: 01733 345581 >>Broadcasters dial ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & APT Media Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581