HOUSEHOLDS in Redditch are facing across the board increases in council tax.
Increases at Worcestershire County Council are set to put an average of £1 a week on a Band D property, taking it to £1,396.78, a rise of 3.94 per cent.
People will also be paying more via the West Mercia Police precept, taking it to £249.66 per annum for a Band D property and this coming Monday Redditch Borough Council looks set to recommend a £5 increase in its council tax, taking it to £254.15 per annum.
That rise comes as council finance chiefs acknowledge that Redditch is facing ‘challenging financial context’ with huge uncertainty over future funding from central government.
They say the authority will have to find ‘significant savings’ with both councillors and officers reviewing the services provided by the council to consider future levels of funding and see where additional income could be generated.
The need is pressing, as the authority is required to keep a reserve of £1.5million, but on current projections its balances for 2023-24 will fall to just over £1m and sink to just £228,000 in 2024-25.
A report to councillors reads: “Savings, increased income levels, additional government resources or a favourable Fair Funding Review will therefore be necessary to ensure above minimum levels of reserves over the medium term.
“Further action is therefore needed as a matter of urgency.”
Councillor Mike Rouse (Con, Church Hill), who holds the finance portfolio on Redditch Borough Council, said: “Clearly it’s a challenging financial situation, to say the least.
“But it’s one that can be managed if we are able to deliver greater efficiency and savings and look at how the council works and delivers services.”
