Council tax bills could rise by around £1 a week to tackle a £57.3m reduction in Government funding while protecting services most valued by Cheshire West residents.
That’s the Labour administration’s position on the Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) element of the council tax, as a report goes before Wednesday’s (January 27) Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Other elements are determined by Cheshire Police, Cheshire Fire Authority and, where applicable, town and parish councils.
CWaC is recommending a 3.99% council tax rise in 2016-17, comprising a 1.99% general increase and an additional 2% rise for adult social care. This would mean a standard Band D council tax rate of £1,326.11, a rise of £50.88 on the 2015-16 rate.
The increase would generate an additional £5,857,000, of which £2,935,000 would go towards easing the growing financial pressures in adult social care.
Cllr David Armstrong, cabinet member for finance and legal, said: “The Government is substantially cutting the amount of money it allocates to Cheshire West and Chester Council over the next four years.
“The financial challenges facing the authority are more significant than they have ever been and it is important to take a longer term view to addressing this, rather than taking short-term decisions from one year to the next.
“The feedback from the comprehensive Let’s Talk consultation has been invaluable in gathering views and will also be used to inform the budget planning process in future years.”
Rise 'in line' with 100 other councils
Labour say the proposal is in line with more than 100 local authorities who have been allowed to increase council tax by up to four percent, providing the extra money is used for adult social care.
The committee report reveals the budget shortfall facing the authority over the next four years has grown from £47,000,000 to £57,300,000.
This is the result of an additional £10.3m cuts imposed on CWaC in the Chancellor’s July and December settlements.
By 2020 the Revenue Support Grant – the biggest source of money for local government which is not ring-fenced – will be reduced to nil, alongside significant reductions to other central government grants.
In the report, Cllr Armstrong says the budget aims to achieve value for money while living within the council’s diminishing resources.
