XN000022-1991-03-06 — Page 40

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1991

39

SIR PIERS POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE TWO COUNCILS WERE AUTONOMOUS, THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF FINANCING CAME FROM RATES REVENUE.

—

"IN PROPOSING THE NEW PERCENTAGE RATES, THEREFORE, I HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE TWO COUNCILS' CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION

IN PARTICULAR, THE URBAN COUNCIL'S ESTIMATED DEFICIT IN 1990-91 · AND THE RESOURCES THAT BOTH COUNCILS REQUIRE ΤΟ CONTINUE THEIR PLANNED PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

-

"IN THIS CONNECTION, THE COUNCILS HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED ΤΟ DEFINE THEIR REQUIREMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND TO HAVE REGARD TO THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY FOR EXPENDITURE, HE SAID.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL TO BOTH COUNCILS FOR THEIR RESPONSE AND FOR THE POSITIVE STEPS THEY HAD TAKEN ΤΟ EXERCISE DUE ECONOMY.

THE

1990

"THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS AGREED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO RESTRICT THE STAFF STRENGTH OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO THE OCTOBER LEVEL OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND TO CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ARISING FROM VALUE FOR MONEY STUDIES.

"THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, NOTWITHSTANDING ITS DEVELOPING ROLE AND THE NEED TO EXPAND SERVICES IN THE NEW TOWNS, HAS REVISED DOWNWARD ITS FORECAST OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

"I AM PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THAT THE REVISED PERCENTAGE RATES I HAVE PROPOSED HAVE BEEN DETERMINED IN FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE CHAIRMEN OF THE TWO COUNCILS, SIR PIERS SAID.

PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDERS SIGNED

THE PROPOSALS ON DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, REGISTRATION TAX,

VEHICLE FIRST

VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCE FEES AND TRANSFER OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP FEE CAME INTO EFFECT TODAY UNDER THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDERS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PRESENTING THE BUDGET FOR 1991-92, SIR PIERS SAID UNDER SIMILAR AUTHORITY, THE OTHER PROPOSALS ON AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX, TUNNEL TOLLS RESTRICTED LICENCE BANK AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY

AND LICENCE REGISTRATION FEES, BERTHING FEES, AND RATES WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1, 1991.

0

. /40

Page 40Page 41