TAXPAYERS in Wyre Forest won’t face a rise for the district council element of their bills after members formally adopted its three-year budget strategy.

Wyre Forest District Council has frozen its council tax for the services it provides for the second year running from 2017/18 – bucking the trend of a number of neighbouring authorities.

This means people living in Band D properties will continue to pay £3.95 a week for all day to day district council services which include waste and recycling, parks, community safety, environmental health, planning, sports, leisure and tourism.

This year’s budget, which was approved at full council on Wednesday, February 22, also includes initiatives aimed at supporting regeneration and economic development in the district, to create jobs and housing while also growing its own income generation streams.

Among the main proposals in the budget strategy are a £10million loan scheme for third party regeneration projects, a £25million capital asset growth fund and a £100,000 investment to support the £3million Heritage Lottery Funding bid to improve Brinton Park.

At the meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Fran Oborski said she wanted to see different priorities in the budget – such as the demolition of Crown House ahead of the regeneration of Worcester Street.

But the ruling Conservative group said a commitment had been made to press ahead with the work in Worcester Street, which forms part of their town centre public realm development.

Councillor Nathan Desmond, Cabinet member for Resources, said: “This truly is a budget that invests in our future and will help support the growth of our local economy in Wyre Forest.

“It will help us attract more businesses to the district, create new jobs, more homes for families and ensure our economy continues to go from strength to strength.

“I’m very pleased that the budget delivers a freeze of council tax for the second year in a row and was supported by nearly 60 per cent of people who responded to the consultation.”

Councillor Marcus Hart, Leader of the Council added: “We will continue to make savings by operating more efficiently and taking a more commercial approach to generate additional income from sources other than Government grants and council tax.

“We have shown we can deliver big regeneration projects such as Wyre Forest Leisure Centre and work with partners on schemes like the Hoo Brook Link Road that will make the district more attractive to new businesses and support a successful local economy.

“The focus on investment and growth in this year’s budget will allow us to build on that great track record and find new and innovative ways to realise our vision where people have a good quality of life and want to live, work, visit and invest in Wyre Forest.”