Politicians have voted in favour of budget proposals in St Albans which include a freeze on Council Tax and new parking machines throughout the district to create savings.

The proposals were discussed and amendments suggested at a St Albans District Council full council meeting on Tuesday, January 26.

The council’s plan this year is to find £700,000 of savings in order to balance the budget, giving inflation and reduction in government funding.

As well as the addition of new parking machines, plans for closing the budget gap in future years include investing in leisure assets to increase income or reduce subsidy, reviewing supplier contracts, and increase commercial activity, potential for greater business rates or fee income.

Labour Cllr Roma Mills pushed for more significant savings to be made in her amendments.

On the Council Tax freeze, Liberal Democrat Cllr Chris White said: “The Council Tax freeze which districts enjoyed over the past five years is clearly at an end – which I have to say makes the assumption of a zero rise in 2016 to 2017 in St Albans a little surprising – but at least it’s not an unsustainable council tax cut as proposed by the police and crime commissioner.”

He added that as an amendment, he would like to see the budget scrutiny process reformed, so that members of the council are offered “real” service reductions as options.

Green Cllr Simon Grover was the only councillor against the Council Tax freeze.

He said: “How long can we continue this self-imposed austerity and what is it really achieving?

“No one wants a tax rise when they can be avoided but I’m talking about a move merely to offset some inflation.

“Our group that plan for the next year’s budget need to look seriously at this issue.”