CHESHIRE West and Chester Council leaders look set to honour their pledge to council taxpayers by recommending an increase which does not exceed the current rate of inflation.
A report to next Wednesday’s executive from director of resources, Julie Gill advocates at a rise of 2.5% – an average weekly rise of 49p per household over the eight council tax bands.
If agreed the increase would bring the annual bill for the average Band D property in West Cheshire to £1,254.59 – a weekly increase of 59p.
The authority will spend over £746m on services during the year but needs to find a further £30m in efficiency savings over the next three years to meet the Government’s widely predicted public spending cuts.
To balance the financial pressures with the need to limit council tax rises, it is re-thinking operational strategies and targeting resources where they will have the most impact.
To help meet this demand for savings – it is proposed to cut a total of £6,941m from service budgets, but avoiding cuts to front-line services.
Budget recommendations also include a 2.7% increase in council house rents, to meet the recommendations of the Government’s national rent restructuring policy – a decision consulted on with the Community Housing Panel.
The decisions of the executive will be considered at a budget meeting on February 25.
