feature: Council Tax set for 2008/9
19 March 2008
Residents across Haringey are beginning to get their Council Tax bills for the coming year. Haringey People looks at the council’s budget for 2008/9 and where the money goes.
No-one likes paying tax, but the good news is that Haringey Council’s budget for 2008/9 will see new investment in key services, says Cllr Charles Adje, cabinet member for resources. .
“We are putting extra cash into repairing potholes, recycling and street cleaning,” he said. “More people need help to live independent lives in the community, so that is one of our priorities, along with our schools and youth service.
“And by planning carefully and making value for money savings – £300,000 on our energy costs, for example – we have been able to keep the increase in the Haringey part of the Council Tax down to just 65p a week for the average taxpayer.”
Money from the Council Tax makes up about a quarter of council spending. Other funding comes from central government, and there is also money direct from the Mayor of London.
This includes £800,000 to Haringey for young people over the coming three years.
As well as the 65p a week average increase in the Haringey Council Tax, the bill includes the Mayor of London’s Council Tax, collected on behalf of City Hall by the council.
This money, up by an average 11p a week, goes towards policing, fire services, transport and environmental services Londonwide and the 2012 Olympics, including proposals for a thousand extra police officers across the capital.
Help with the bills
If you are unemployed or on a low income you could get help with paying the Council Tax. Adults living on their own get a discount on the Council Tax, and you may qualify for other discounts as well.
Are you on Direct Debit?
It’s the easiest and most efficient way to pay your Council Tax. Just fill in and return the form in the booklet you receive with your bill, and the payment is made automatically from your bank or building society account.
You don’t need to remember to pay every month, and you can cancel the arrangement at any time.
To check whether you can claim Council Tax Benefit call 0845 071 2800.
To switch to Direct Debit call 0845 073 3557
Facts and figures
Haringey Council provides more than 700 different services for local people: rubbish collection and street cleaning, schools, libraries, sports centres and parks, housing, social services, planning, road maintenance, environmental health, trading standards and more.
About 40 per cent of the council’s total budget of some £402 million goes towards our 80 secondary, primary and special schools. Households pay different levels of Council Tax depending on which of eight bands their property is in. For 2008/9 the average B and D tax is set at £1,471.48
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