Council tax is frozen for Valley residents

The council’s budget for the forthcoming year was set at a meeting last week and the borough’s precept will remain unchanged at £145.69 for a Band D property.

The leader of the council, Councillor Stuart Hirst (pictured), said he was “delighted” and praised work of council staff.

He said: “This will be the seventh year out of the last eight in which this has been achieved and means that our tax level remains by far the lowest in Lancashire and in the lowest quartile for all district councils nationally.

“This despite continuing increases from Lancashire County Council, the Police Commissioner and the overwhelming majority of other local authorities throughout the country.

“Over the last eight years national economic pressure has resulted in a reduction of over 40 per cent in our mainstream government funding which has meant our budgeting has been extremely challenging.

“Despite this the council has been able to maintain its core service levels to nationally recognised standards and achieve public satisfaction ratings averaging over 70 per cent which is the highest in the region.

“This is a significant achievement reflecting many years of careful and prudent financial planning to the benefit of all Ribble Valley residents and I am grateful to all councillors, officers and staff throughout the authority for their continuing hard and dedicated work in making this possible. I would like to pay tribute to them for continuing to deliver efficient and cost-effective services in difficult times.”