By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottinghamshire council approved its budget with cross-party support from councillors.
Newark and Sherwood District Council proposed a 1.94 per cent increase in council tax in the coming financial year, equating to £3.53 for Band D properties.
But the Conservative-led authority says around three-quarters of homes across the district fall into Bands A to C, meaning the increase for residents in these bands will be less than £3.53 per year.
Councillors unanimously approved the budget at the full council meeting on March 8.
Leader of the council David Lloyd (Con) said: “This is a budget that will sustain the excellent services which we deliver to the standards expected, and very evidently therefore at value for money.
“This is a budget that will build on the post-pandemic work and take our economies further still to sustainable growth.
“This is a budget with an eye to the current forecast difficulties, not only for our own financing but the impacts that will be felt within our communities.
“This is a budget which while driven and led by Conservatives, is I hope cross-party once more.”
Councillor Paul Peacock (Lab) said the Labour group supported the budget.
He said: “Amid all the other costs that families will bear, our increase small increase to their burden is, at least, excellent value.
“We support the budget as it’s aligned with our medium-term financial plan which clearly indicates difficult times ahead for the council.
“When our residents open their council tax bills and see the massive increase for this year, they will wonder why the roads are still in a terrible condition, why their child couldn’t be placed in any of the secondary schools they preferred, or why they never see a police officer.
“Let’s get the message across that Newark and Sherwood District Council gives excellent value to its residents and we will strive to keep our bills as low as possible.”
