Councils Propose Tax Rises

Residents across the HFM Region are facing rises in their council tax bills next year.

Leicestershire County Council, North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council are proposing increasing their share of bills by 4.99%.

The cash-strapped Leicestershire authority is planning to use up to £12m of reserves next year to help balance the books, as it predicts a budget gap of £85m by 2028.

The council rise will help generate an additional £11 for front-line services and £7m for adult social care.

Declan Keegan, the council’s Director of Corporate Resources, said: “Councils are facing their toughest ever budget challenge. Although we are not in crisis, we have to tackle the 20 per cent gap between expenditure and income, so need to deliver services differently.

“Supporting vulnerable people remains our priority. And with costs and demand rocketing, it’s crucial we continue to transform how we work whilst also getting people the help they need.

“We’re low funded, very efficient and high performing. But the Government’s autumn statement was dire for councils, with no extra funding and the national living wage increase alone adding £20m to our costs.

“From stepping up finance controls, to making sure we’re not subsidising other organisations’ services, we’re doing everything we can to bring down our significant budget gap. Using our reserves to help make ends meet is clearly not sustainable.”

If approved, the rise in Leicestershire County Council’s share of bills will equate to an extra £70 a year for a Band D home, in West Northants it will be an £84 annual increase and an £82 yearly rise for residents in North Northants.