VIDEO: Cllr David Kirkham defends the increase
Nottinghamshire households will have to pay between £33 and nearly £100 extra in council tax after a rise of nearly four per cent was approved by councillors.
The move was approved at County Hall after a debate lasting several hours.
Leaders at the Labour-led authority have since been defending the decision, saying the council’s financial position meant they had no choice.
But Conservative members said a ‘social care levy’, making up two per cent of the rise, was not needed.
Both sides had agreed a budget before the debate on Thursday, but fell out on the final sticking point of the levy.
Labour pointed out that Cambridgeshire is so far the only county authority not to have taken up the social care levy option – introduced by the Government as part of the November autumn statement.
The rise in numbers: How much more will county homes pay next year from April?
- Band A (property worth up to £40,000) – £33.01 rise
- Band B (£40,001-£52,000) – £38.52
- Band C (£52,001-£68,000) – £44.01
- Band D (£68,001-£88,000) – £49.52
- Band E (£88,001-£120,000) – £60.52
- Band F (£120,001-£160,000) – £71.53
- Band G (£160,001-£320,000) – £82.53
- Band H (Over £320,000) – £99.04
Chairman of the finance and property committee Labour councillor David Kirkham said: “The biggest pressure on our service is from adult social care with people living longer who have more complex needs.
“At the same time, the government is cutting our grant funding which is creating a lot of pressure upon our budget.
“If you look at our financial strategy over the next three of four years, we’ve still got over £50m worth of money to save because of these cuts so it’s crucial we make use of the levy now.”
Four per cent is a lot to pay
However finance spokesman for the Conservatives, councillor Reg Adair, said: “Four per cent is a lot for people to pay on top of rises in the past few years.
“We need to restructure the council to take out overheads and reduce the cost base which we asked for.
“The people that I represent will not be very happy with the bills that come through their doors.”
