• The post you are reporting:
   
  Pity the debate here is so ill informed by those who were former councillors.
  
  Reg.
  
  Districts can't go above their capped levels otherwise central gov. will require them to rebill public or apply administrators [finance officers etc.]to take charge & get them to apply cuts e.g. Hackney & Hammersmith & Fulham under previous regimes.
  
  So lets get real.
  
  To keep services that are optional means others take them over or charging levels are increased.
  
  The next financial year will see a further £800k+ reduction in gov. grant on top of the £2.4m reduction last year. Year 13/14 sees another £1m removed and as much the year after.
  
  The Council Tax cap level for next year is 3.5% if applied. That brings around £200k extra to DDC. As you will workout that leaves £600k to find either in savings or increased fees.
  
  So expect a mix of all three to balance the books.
  
  To go above capping levels in future will require a local referendum to be applied. A costly affair that further drains limited finances.
  
  Watty

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