Nottinghamshire County Council has approved a tax rise of at least £50 for all households despite claims it will "exacerbate" the cost of living crisis for some. The council is the first one across Nottinghamshire to officially approve the tax it will charge residents during the upcoming financial year, starting in April.
Proposals were first released at the start of January for an increase in both standard council tax and the separate adult social care precept, the former of which will go up by 2.84% and the latter by 2%. It means that people in Band A properties, which make up nearly 40% of Nottinghamshire households, will pay an extra £53.05 in council tax.
Many other authorities across Nottinghamshire have also released their own council tax proposals for the next financial year, with one already being approved for the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner. The approved tax rise for the county council will affect all Nottinghamshire residents outside Nottingham, where the city's unitary authority sets its own tax rate.
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The county council's budget for the year was approved at a full council meeting in County Hall on February 9. Councillor Ben Bradley, who leads the Conservative-controlled authority, defended the tax rise in his speech by saying: "Whilst other councils, very close to here in fact, are slashing these services to bits, our budget protects them and we are committing to doing more for residents in those services that really matter, not less.
"We're gradually improving the value we offer for taxpayers. We're enhancing the services people need the most, whilst making savings in areas that won't impact on vital front line delivery, and we're providing a platform for the future to be able to transform the way we deliver things for local people."
Independent councillor Francis Purdue-Horan put forward an amendment to the budget proposed by the Independent Alliance at the county council. Its proposals included making savings by reducing communications and marketing staff at the council and cancelling plans to build an office on the Top Wighay development, instead investing £20.5m in the road network.
Speaking about the council tax rise in particular, Cllr Purdue-Horan said: "Hundreds of thousands of residents in Nottinghamshire are living through the most difficult time of their lives. The cost of living crisis has seen food prices soar, food inflation is 16%.
"What we are faced with today is whether to take the decision to exacerbate this. We face a decision to put council tax up by 4.84%. Reducing this council tax rise has been central to our deliberations since the start of the year."
Cllr Bradley, who has led the council since May 2021, previously argued the authority would be facing a financial gap of £35m over the next three years without making savings and raising tax. But others speaking against the budget during the full council meeting included Labour Cllr Michael Payne, representing Arnold North, who said: "The truth is the budget that is being presented to us today is a standstill budget in a standstill Britain.
"From the Government yet again we've had a one year settlement instead of a multi year settlement, we've had a fair funding review kicked down the road. There are so many burning injustices in this country at the moment."
Speaking in particular about the county council's assertion that it is raising council tax by 4.84% rather than the 5% maximum allowed, Cllr Payne added: "Any right-thinking person looking at this can see there ain't much difference… pull another one."
Addressing the delay to the Government's fair funding review of local councils, Cllr Richard Jackson, the cabinet member for finance, said: "I believe, by having a council leader working so closely with key decision-makers in Westminster and Whitehall, our voice is now heard louder than ever before.
"Cllr Bradley has been doing everything in his power to push for this review and both of us are very disappointed by this delay." But in terms of this year's funding from Government, Cllr Jackson added: "Nottinghamshire has received a settlement far better than anyone expected."
Nottinghamshire County Council's share of council tax is collected by the district council in your area. Your overall council tax bill is used to fund both the county and district council, Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue.
Those in a Band H property, the highest band properties which make up just 0.1% of Nottinghamshire households, will pay £159.14 more in council tax as a result of the approved budget. The budget was passed with 33 votes in favour of it, and 27 votes against it.
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