Cabinet backs council tax cut proposals

The Royal Borough's budget for 2014/15 moved a step closer to being approved last night after it received unanimous praise from cabinet members.

The budget, which includes a two per cent reduction in band D council tax and £6.148m in efficiency savings, was presented to members by Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for finance, at a meeting at Maidenhead Town Hall.

He said the borough was cutting council tax 'year after year after year to make a very material reduction', highlighting that residents in band D are paying £110 less than they were in 2009/10.

Cllr Dudley said the borough believes it has the lowest council tax outside of London and took a swipe at neighbouring authorities, including the Labour-led Reading Borough Council.

He quipped: "If I was one of their residents I would be saying 'why am I paying an additional amount of council tax? Why aren't we doing what the Royal Borough is doing? Why don't we have a Consertivative council?'"

The budget will now be considered by full council at the town hall on February 25.