Bournemouth Town Council Defers Council Tax Freeze Decision
Bournemouth Town Council referred a proposal to freeze the 2027/28 council tax precept to a finance committee for further review.
The Bournemouth Town Council referred a proposal to freeze the council tax precept for the 2027/28 financial year to its Finance, Governance & Staffing Committee for further review. The measure, introduced by Councillor Jeff Hanna, aimed to ensure no increase in the portion of council tax used to fund town services, citing the increased cost of living for residents.
Councillor Kieron Franklin opposed passing a standalone freeze while the council simultaneously considered proposals for hundreds of thousands of pounds in new spending. Franklin argued that the decision must be based on real numbers rather than slogans to ensure the council can responsibly keep its promises to residents.
Councillor Hanna characterized the delay as "sheer incompetence," arguing that the council should reassure residents immediately that no increase would occur. The matter now awaits a full written report from the committee to determine how the precept aligns with the broader budget.
