COUNCIL tax for Redditch residents looks set to rise by an average of £33 as Conservative-led Worcestershire county council contemplates a 2.94 per cent rise.
The news was outlined in the county’s draft budget proposals as it looks to cover the rising costs of adult social care, and to support the council’s everyday spending.
Even then the authority is facing £3million hole which needs to be closed.
Council chiefs have taken advantage of the Government’s ‘adult social care precept,’ which allows councils to raise council tax by an extra two per cent, generating £4million, ring-fenced purely to support elderly and vulnerable people.
This means residents living in average band D properties can expect their bills to rise by £33 next year, whilst those in larger band H homes will see a £65.99 increase and bills for residents in smaller band A properties will rise by £22.
Details of the rise emerged in the county council’s draft budget proposals, discussed by the Cabinet yesterday (Thursday), which also revealed a £2.9million funding gap still needs to be closed by the time full council votes on the plans in February.
Also announced in the budget includes a congestion busting plan to spend £5million next year on tackling the county’s hotspots, an extra £1million for road repairs and £6million over two years for improving pavements.
Councillor Simon Geraghty, Leader county leader said: “This is a budget shaped around what residents tell us are most important to them. Time and time again people tell us that their priorities are maintaining the highway, safeguarding vulnerable children and protecting vulnerable adults.
“We are proposing an increase of 2.94 per cent for next year which equates to less than 10p per day.”
Labour Group opposition leader, Coun Peter McDonald, said: “This increase coming just a year after a four per cent increase will cripple a great number of families.
“I am finding it difficult to find anyone who has had increases in their wages to offset the year after year increase in the council tax.”
