BRENTWOOD Borough Council has announced that it will freeze its precept of council tax but also cut 12 jobs.
Council leader Louise McKinlay made the announcement this week as she revealed a raft of radical measures to cut back on Town Hall costs and find new ways of generating revenue.
For the year ahead, it is predicted the council will receive 11.4 per cent less funding from Westminster.
Yet despite this, a Band D borough council tax contribution for the year from April 1 will remain at £170.70.
Addressing a meeting of the council's Special Policy, Projects and Resources Board last night, Mrs McKinlay unveiled a three-year plan for the authority plus some "New Ways of Working" (NWoW) to deliver the savings.
The council's total budgeted spend from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, is £11,345,190 compared to funding of £10,237,270 – leaving a shortfall of £1,107,920.
Expected savings to be made from NWoW – which includes cutting 12 jobs – are £477,630 in the coming year.
The remaining £630,290 will be met from council coffers to balance the books.
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