Staff at Tandridge District Council have offered to give up their pay rise for 2010 to help the Council achieve savings while protecting the quality of services to residents and businesses.

An original two year pay deal was negotiated before the recession started, when the cost of living was running at 5% and predicted to rise further. Staff were due to be awarded 2.8% from next April 2010, but agreed in December to forego their entitlement.

Tandridge District Council, along with most other councils in the country, is facing severe financial problems as a result of falls in income, particularly from planning applications and land charges, lower interest rates, reduced grants and an increase in service demands. To help make savings, the Council already has a recruitment freeze in place.

Stephen Weigel, Chief Executive of Tandridge District Council who is responsible for staffing matters said: "I am both pleased and grateful to my work colleagues for recognising the very difficult financial climate the Council faces and agreeing not to take a previously negotiated pay rise next year. There are tough times ahead and we all need to work together to make sure we can balance our books and still provide good services to residents and businesses."