Maidenhead & Windsor

Residents in the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough will be better off in the next financial year, thanks to the first-ever proposed cut in council tax - by 4% - likely to be one of the biggest reductions in the country.

The 'money in your pocket' Windsor and Maidenhead budget means that the Band D council tax rate will fall by more than £41, giving local people a much needed cash boost. The news is particularly good for people on low incomes, including pensioners for whom council tax is often their largest bill.

Cllr Richard Kellaway, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead finance, said: "Our aim is to provide better services for less money and we have been able to achieve this unprecedented reduction by careful financial management. There is no magic wand - just meticulous scrutiny of our resources and making every penny work.

"Front line services are being protected but we have carried out a far-reaching restructure to make sure our back room support is as efficient as it can be. We are aiming to create a lean organisation that is fighting fit and able to maintain and improve the services our residents depend on every day of their lives."

Cllr David Burbage, Windsor and Maidenhead council leader, said: "The council will not waver from our commitment to putting residents first. We promised quality services and value for money - and there is no better way of delivering on that promise than this first ever cut in council tax that leaves local people better off. At a time when the country is struggling out of recession and everyone is feeling the pinch, I am delighted that we can announce this good news."

Cllr Burbage said the success of the Windsor and Maidenhead council's financial strategy also depended on flexible staff who were willing to adapt to changing demands in their jobs.

He said: "Regrettably we had to face the fact that, in common with local authorities across the country, we could not manage the council effectively in the current economic climate without an impact on jobs. However, we have worked hard to keep redundancies to the absolute minimum and residents should be reassured that services will be maintained - and in many cases improved - using more efficient ways of working and equipping people with new skills."

Efficiency savings have been identified throughout the Windsor and Maidenhead organisation to help bring about the cut in council tax, including:

• Creating an admin centre £1,053,000
• Centralising printing and posting £150.000
• Re-tendering the school transport contract £207,000
• Using wholesalers for buying equipment £100,000
• Renegotiating the waste and recycling contract £100,000
• Relocating staff from rented offices to the Town Hall £75,000
• Using lean management in the planning department £73,000
• Introducing smart metering to help save energy £70,000.

The proposed Windsor and Maidenhead budget also means continuing investment in council services, including:

• A further increase in the number of community wardens - from 10 to 14
• New day services for people with learning difficulties and those with dementia
• A new leisure centre at Cox Green
• A new borough museum in the Guildhall, Windsor
• More than £1m for road resurfacing
• An additional £75,000 to fix potholes after the severe weather
• £300,000 contribution towards the Windsor and Eton Relief Road improvements.

If the Windsor and Maidenhead budget proposals get council go-ahead, the Royal Borough's new Band D council tax rate for 2010/11 will be £995.73 - a decrease of 4% (£41.48) over 2009/10. The borough is already £154 below the 2009/10 average Band D rate for unitary councils in England and the gap is likely to widen in the year ahead.

Budget proposals will be discussed by the various overview and scrutiny panels over the next few weeks before going to cabinet on Thursday 11 February. The final decision will be made by full council on Tuesday 23 February.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead