By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Newark and Sherwood district residents will pay almost three cent more council tax from next month.
An amendment which would have cut this to under two per cent in return for reduced culture funding was rejected.
The full council meeting on Thursday (March 7) heard it was vital that the arts were protected.
Properties in the lowest value ‘Band A’ home will pay just under £130 per year following the increase, while Band B will pay £151 extra.
Leader Councillor Paul Peacock (Lab) said it was necessary to increase council tax by the maximum amount permitted due to government underfunding.
“We hate to raise council tax but we are committed to improving public services, particularly at a time when demand is increasing. This is a raise forced on us by a government that doesn’t believe in public services,” he said.
The Conservative opposition on the council proposed a 1.94 per cent increase instead, with a rise in arts and culture funding reduced from £95,000 to £15,000.
Group leader Councillor Rhona Hollaway said: “In times of financial constraints, we should look closely at budget increase requests.
“It’s unjustified to ask our residents to pay further council tax for the arts and culture budget when it is already very well-funded.”
The council was allocated more than £900,000 by Arts Council England in 2022.
Members were divided on how closely culture funding should be protected during difficult times for council finances.
Councillor Rowan Couzens (Ind) said: “Enjoyment of art and culture should be part of everybody’s life”, and added it couldn’t be properly funded by one-off grants.
Many struggling young families relied on the council’s free culture offerings, Councillor Emma Oldham (Ind) said.
However, Councillor Sue Saddington (Con) said some elderly people couldn’t afford to pay higher tax.
“I have had several come up to me and say they don’t want to pay any more out of their pensions. Why are we putting it up an extra one per cent that we didn’t have to?” she asked.
The council tax increase will come into effect in the new financial year in April.
The government has previously said each council is responsible for its own finances, and that it has recently increased the overall level of funding that authorities receive.
