LibDem Finance Convener hails council tax freeze in City as 2007/8 bills go out
As almost 70,000 council tax bills for the 2007/08 financial year are to be sent to households in the city over the next week, Dundee City Council LibDem Finance Convener, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, today (Saturday 10th March) hailed the council tax freeze over the next year as good news for hard-pressed council taxpayers.
Speaking on local radio Wave 102, Fraser said, "We want to make it as easy as possible for people to make payments and we are continuing to provide a whole range of payment methods.
"We have secured access to PayPoint outlets for the next three years by transferring from our current supplier to the Co-op Bank.
"Direct Debit is the easiest and most cost effective way to pay your council tax and each year more people are choosing this method of payment. People are also turning to the internet to pay their bills on line in increasing numbers."
Dundee City Council has frozen its council tax for the 2007/08 financial year. The Band D figure remains at £1,211 for the second year running.
Fraser continued, "As a result of effective financial management we have been able to deliver a budget that freezes council tax as well as maintaining council services.
"This year's freeze builds on experience over several years where our objective has been to keep any council tax increase to a minimum. Since 1999/2000, Dundee City Council has had the second lowest cumulative increase of all 32 councils in Scotland."
A covering leaflet which provides information about the council's plans, performance and budgets as well as guidance on claiming council tax benefit and housing benefit will also be sent with council tax bills.
Currently over 23,000 council tax payments are made by Direct Debit, over 3,000 are made on line through the city council web site and 42,000 use a payment card which can be used at 95 outlets throughout the city including PayPoint shops, council payment offices and post offices.