Elmbridge Borough Council’s portion of the council tax could be frozen for another year.

The authority’s cabinet discussed its budget for 2012/13 at a meeting in Esher last Wednesday evening (November 23).

Portfolio holder for resources Tim Oliver said that it looks as if the full council will be recommended to approve a 0% increase in its element of the council tax when it meets in February.

“That is a very positive position to be in and, I think, the fifth year out of six that has happened,” he said.

The news comes with the government having announced the payment of a Council Tax Freeze Grant.

This means that local authorities which freeze or reduce their council tax next year will get a one off grant equivalent to raising their council tax by 2.5%.

“Without that, we would have struggled but we will take advantage of that,” said Cllr Oliver.

At Wednesday’s meeting, cabinet members also agreed to budget savings totalling £1.08 million for the next municipal year.

Of that, £320,000 has come from contract renewals, while £160,000 has come from “employee-related savings”, including minor restructures, reduced hours and reduced pensions payments.

Cllr Oliver stressed that none of the savings would have an impact on front line services.

If they are ratified at a meeting of the full council on December 7, the council will have to find another £416,000 of savings to balance the books in 2012/13.

“We have a pretty clear idea of where that will come from and that will be presented as part of the budget in February,” said Cllr Oliver.