More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A borough council is looking to boost its share of council tax by £5 a year.
Tonbridge and Malling councillors will meet next week to discuss the proposal, which amounts to a 2.4% annual rise.
Council tax paid towards borough council goes towards things like waste collections, parks , environmental health and planning.
Residents in Tonbridge and Malling will not need reminding of the appalling bin collection service that started in September.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council hired Urbaser to collect waste around the borough, but on the worst days it was missing up to 1,000 homes a day.
The council started fining the company over its performance last month and started an action plan to turn the service around.
If approved the increase amounts to less than 10p a week for a typical Band D home, with the annual fee rising from £209.50 to £214.50 from April this year.
Cllr Martin Coffin, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council cabinet member responsible for finance and innovation, said: "This budget will ensure we can continue to invest in essential services for residents and businesses across our borough. At the same time we are continuing to drive down costs and introduce smarter working to deliver the best possible value to council tax payers."
A TMBC spokesman said: "The council's income from council tax for the year from April 2020 is forecast to be £11 million.
"In addition, it is due to receive government core funding and a grant to support housing growth totalling £5.7 million. The council’s core funding has decreased by around 65% since 2011 and is lower than all other borough councils in Kent."
The council tax levels for other public bodies in Kent are set independently of the borough council. The precepts for Kent County Council, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and parish councils, which together account for nearly 90% of money raised through council tax, are due to be presented to a full council meeting on 18 February when final rates will be set.
