Rushcliffe Borough Council approves 2.46 per cent council tax hike and £27 million investment in services

The authority met in a full council meeting on Thursday, March 6 to discuss approving budget proposals for the 2025 to 2026 financial year.

They approved budget includes a council tax rise of 2.46 per cent for the upcoming financial year and £27m for services over the next five years.

Presenting the budget, Cllr Neil Clarke (Con), leader of the council, said: “As with all councils, we’re always under financial pressure of some sort.

“Unlike many, we are not making services reductions and look to continue and improve our services while growing the borough.

“Our sound finances are backed up by having a virtually balanced budget over five years, up-to-date financial accounts signed off by the council’s auditors.

“Excellent governance is the backbone of any well-run local authority. We know when governance goes wrong, what the implications are – looking especially at other local authorities.

“This budget tonight does not just happen by accident. It’s a result of a lot of very hard work over a long period of time, to ensure we have a commercial culture and we operate in a business-like manner.

“This council has a history of being brave, not reckless. And has not made some of the poor financial decisions as other councils have made.”

The authority received a 0.9 per cent increase in central Government grant for the year – significantly less than the 6.8 per cent average Government grant rise for all councils across England.

Cllr Clarke said this would “impact businesses” and lead to “further costs”, with the Government placing an “extra burden” through a National Insurance contributions increase.

With inflation at two per cent, Rushcliffe Borough Council is also facing a “real cut in overall funding”, Cllr Clarke said.

He said the council now has to raise revenues to “continue providing the best services and invest in the council’s assets so services can be delivered effectively”.

Labour councillors proposed an amendment to increase the Disabled Facilities Grant and for West Bridgford to have a Town Council.

Presenting the amendment, Cllr Dora Polenta (Lab) said in the meeting: “Public services must meet public needs, not leave the most vulnerable behind turning accessibility into a privilege instead of a right.

“Our proposal focuses on two key areas and that disable facility grants meet local demands. Housing is more than a service; it’s a fundamental human right.

Yet for too many disabled people their homes become places of struggle rather than security.”

The amendment was voted down.

The council tax rise will see properties in council tax Band D face an increase of £3.89 per year, bringing the annual charge to £161.77.

This would mean Rushcliffe’s borough council tax would remain the lowest in Nottinghamshire from amounts agreed so far in other areas – although final total household bills will include county council and other bills.

Rushcliffe’s proposed increase is down slightly from last year’s rise, which was 2.55 per cent.

Concluding the meeting, Cllr Davinder Virdi (Con), Portfolio Holder for Finance, who seconded the recommendations, said: “We’re proposing a council tax increase within this budget because its based on a rational framework to increase our income where its needed while recognising the cost of living for our residents.”

He added: “We’re not playing games, we’re not freezing our council tax like other councils who have deficits forecast in their finances.

“We produced a balanced budget, we are investing in the future while we deliver efficient services.”

The budget was carried with 23 voting for and 17 voting against.

All final household council tax bills in Nottinghamshire include portions for either the county or city council, plus a district or borough council, and contributions for the police and fire services. All these authorities are now setting rates for the year ahead.

The final total bills for all other districts and boroughs will be known later in March.