Harpenden set to freeze council tax again

It might only be a small proportion of their overall council tax bills but homeowners in Harpenden will not have to pay any more this year for living in the town.

Harpenden town councillors have voted to freeze their share of overall council tax bills for the sixth year in successfion.

Cllr Bert Pawle, vice chair of the policy and finance committee, said, “This will be the sixth year in which the charge to our residents for the services now provided by the town council has either been reduced or maintained at the same level even though, like household budgets, the council’s expenses have been subject to inflationary pressures.”

The council has recently funded two land purchases from general reserves.

It is also now responsible for Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve, Marquis Lane Open Space, Lydekker Park and car park, Westfield Recreation Ground, Porters Hill Park and Park Hall as well as the funding of new initiatives such as the St Albans and Harpenden Food and Drink Festival.

It gained control of Lydekker car park in 2012 and most recently in December, riverside land adjacent to Marquis Lane was bought to extend the Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve.

Town mayor Cllr Mary Maynard commented: “The proposed Band D equivalent charge of £67.52 is less than five per cent of the total Band D Council Tax paid by Harpenden residents.

“It represents a priority of this council to exercise financial discipline while at the same time not compromising resilience to meet its expected liabilities.”