Royal Borough to cut council tax by three per cent for 2013

Council tax for Windsor and Maidenhead residents will be cut by three per cent.

This is the fourth year in a row that the Royal Borough has reduced the tax.

The borough said savings have come as a result of 'rigorous expense management'.

It said there will be fewer redundancies although the council still expects to cut between 35 and 40 staff.

Taxpayers in Band D properties will save £29 compared to last year's bill, which equals a total saving of £91 over four years. The council said this is the lowest rate in the UK outside of London.

Cabinet member for finance, Cllr Simon Dudley said: "Year by year we have aimed to make the council more efficient. This has allowed us to make sure that one of the larger bills is coming down as other bills are going up. These are big numbers for people."

Savings in council operations have totalled £7.5m, meaning council reserves are higher than ever.

This means the cuts come alongside millions of pounds of investment in services.

Council leader David Burbage said by making savings through better ways of working and reducing administrative costs, the council has more money available for residents.

"We have invested heavily in front line services including £1m in adult social care and thousands of pounds to safeguard vulnerable children.

Other major investment in council services will include:

• £3.6m for the expansion of Windsor first and middle schools

• £2.1m for overall school improvements

• £1.3m for highway resurfacing (an increase of £250,000)

• £1m for the initial phase of the new Oldfield School in Maidenhead

• £400,000 for Maidenhead town centre improvements - part of the regeneration programme

The budget proposals will go before cabinet on Thursday, February 7, with a final decision at full council on Tuesday, February 19.