The Conservative led district councillors have voted to keep the rate rise for the coming year 2010 to 1.5%. This is one of the lowest rises ever set and certainly has not been matched for at least 20 years.

Chris Whitbread the Finance portfolio holder said;

This has come about through prudent management and saving generated by the council across many areas, he further said that the electorate had played their part in accepting policies like the waste management in the past year which enabled the council to save money.

Chris also said that as a result of this change we do not envisage any job losses created by this saving and the contingency fund remains strong no thanks to the Lib Dems who wanted to introduce a zero % increase which would have meant large increases in rates for the coming years.

In all the council is still in a strong financial position and will remain so for the coming year. A magnificent achievement given the hard times we are having at present.