Alnwick District Council has been able, this year, to keep its council tax at the same level as for 2007-08. This means that a Band D council-tax payer will pay £157.12 towards district council services, during the next financial year - the equivalent of just over £3 per week.

Within our budget we have:

• Made additional funding available for the new concessionary bus travel scheme
• Increased the money awarded in grants to outside bodies to £178,000, which is a rise of almost 40 per cent in support of community projects
• Raised the expenditure on the repair and maintenance of public conveniences
• Provided more funds for additional planting in our three main settlements
• Created significant savings through negotiating a new insurance contract
• We will continue to deliver results that, wherever possible correspond with our residents’ priorities. This is demonstrated, for example, by the investment that we have made and will continue to make, in sports and leisure, affordable housing, recycling and the cleanliness of the environment.

The Council has a good financial standing and we will continue to look at ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our services, both proactively and as opportunities present themselves.

Councillor Peter Dawson
Chairman of the Council