By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Ashfield residents face at least an extra £3.83 being added to their annual council tax bills after the district council put forward an increase.
It comes on top of separate rises from other authorities that would see all households in the district being taxed £71 or more from April.
Ashfield District Council’s cabinet will discuss its tax plans on Tuesday, February 21 before presenting the wider budget to full council on March 2.
The Ashfield Independent-led authority is planning a tax rise of 2.94 per cent – marginally below the maximum allowed for district councils.
For Band D homes, the increase works out at £5.75 more being paid to the authority and takes the total paid directly to the council up to £201.21 for the 2023/24 financial year.
The authority’s increase would hit Band A homes, which make up the majority of properties in the district, with a £3.83 rise and take the council’s total portion of bills to £134.14.
For Band B homes, the rise works out at £4.72 and takes the total precept for the authority up to £156.50.
And Band C homes would pay the council £5.11 more from April, giving the authority £178.85 in total.
The council says the increase is needed to combat the current and forecast levels of inflation, describing the rise as a “last resort”.
The authority says around 53 per cent of all homes in the district are Band A, with 27 per cent of these receiving either full or partial council tax support.
Councillor David Martin (Ash Ind) is the authority’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Raising council tax is a last resort but represents a few pence a week for the vast majority of residents.
“We recognise the strain rocketing budgets have had on Ashfield residents with soaring inflation and big rises in the cost of living.
“We have the most generous council tax support scheme possible. This will protect the most vulnerable across Ashfield from any rise at all.”
It comes after Nottinghamshire County Council and Caroline Henry (Con), the police and crime commissioner, both had their tax plans approved last week.
The Conservative-led county council greenlit its 4.84 per cent tax hike on Thursday (February 9), affecting Band D homes by a £79.57 increase for its portion of bills.
This is the largest of four tax hikes and will affect Band A homes with a £53.05 rise from April.
Band B and C homes will pay the county council £61.88 and £70.73 more each respectively.
Mrs Henry’s separate increase of £14.94 on Band D homes was approved on Tuesday (February 7), affecting Band A houses with a further £9.94 rise.
Band B homes will be affected by an additional £11.62 increase, with £13.28 more to be paid by Band C homes to fund police budgets.
And the Nottinghamshire Fire Authority, which determines the budget of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, is also proposing a £5 increase for every home in the county, regardless of their house banding.
The fire service increase is due to be discussed by the fire authority on Friday, February 24.
With the police, fire service and county council precepts included, Band D Ashfield homes would pay £105.26 more from April and £2,283.63 in total.
Band A homes would pay £71.84 more and £1,523.15 in total from April, while Band B homes would face £83.22 more in tax bills taking their total sum to £1,777.27 for the year.
And, with the other authorities’ bills, Band C homes face a total bill of £2,030.44 after a total council tax increase of £94.12.