County Council Set To Increase Its Share Of Council Tax
Written by HFM News on 10th December 2021
Leicestershire County Council is set to increase it’s share of council tax bills.
The authority is proposing a 3% rise, meaning people living in a Band D property across Harborough paying an extra £42.30 a year.
It’s warning increasing costs to look after vulnerable children and adults is stretching its finances to unrepresented levels as it calls on fairer funding from government.
The council’s medium-term financial strategy (MTFS) sets out the need to save £100m by 2025/26 with more than £46 million of that sum yet to be identified.
Councillor Lee Breckon, the council’s lead member for resources, said: “The numbers we are looking at are stark and worrying.
“While we can balance our budget next year, after that it becomes increasingly challenging.
“The demand for social care for our vulnerable residents grows year after year and the cost of providing that care has increased.
“The continuing Covid-19 pandemic has meant we have to do even more to care for vulnerable adults and the demand is greater than the resources available.
“The same sorts of pressure apply to educating and caring for children with special needs and disabilities.”
Harborough District Council, Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, which make up other parts of residents’ council tax bills, have yet to announce if they will be increasing charges.
