Council tax to rise by almost 5%

Council tax in Herefordshire will go up by almost 5% from April.

County councillors have today approved the 2021/22 revenue budget which will see a 1.99% increase in core council tax and a 3% rise for the adult social care precept.

The ruling coalition of Independent, It’s Our County and Green Party councillors said these rises are needed to help pay for the growing costs of providing services.

This increases the charge for a band D property to £1,652.30 representing a rise of £78.52 per year.

Finance and corporate services cabinet member Liz Harvey said 2020 did not turn out like they had had expected.

“We did expect pressures on our social care services to continue to increase but none of us anticipated the impact the Covid pandemic would have upon us nationally and therefore locally,” she said.

“In year, officers have responded with creativity and flair to the tsunami of challenges presenting themselves as we’ve all battled the Covid waves.

“This 2021 budget has us needing to recognise and plan for the sustained uplift in service delivery costs and reduction in income sources which Covid continues to present as a challenge to us.

“Together, these represent £15m in additional cost pressures.”

Conservative group leader Jonathan Lester said his councillors supported the idea of raising tax but that an almost 5% increase was a step too far.

His group instead proposed a 3.99% rise deferring a 1% increase until next year, but this amendment was rejected by 28 votes to 17 with seven abstentions.

“Overall, we agree with many of the proposals,” he said.

“We also acknowledge that the pandemic has put a great strain on council resources and so any responsible administration would look to increase taxes.

“However, we believe there is a balance to be struck. We believe that going to 4.99%, essentially the maximum, this is a step too far.

“This is especially the case when we find that people are finding the cost of living rises and the challenges of the pandemic are really putting them into situations they never thought they would have to face.”

The Liberal Democrats also proposed a lower council tax increase.

Group leader Terry James instead suggested the council should use some of its reserves and increase tax by 3%.

“Year after year, we’ve had increases in the council tax above the rate of inflation.

“The public can’t take it anymore. Think about those who won’t qualify for the council tax reduction scheme. There are going to be thousands and thousands of them.

“And we are going to have to ask them to pay a substantial rise in their council tax.”

However, this amendment was also rejected by 27 votes to 20 with one abstention.

It’s Our County co-leader Alan Seldon said the responsibility for council tax increases lay with Herefordshire’s two MPs who consistently vote for less funding for local government services.

While True Independents group leader Bob Matthews said the council tax hike is going to cause considerable hardship to hardworking residents.

“Any money you take from them will mean they will have very little left to spend in the local economy resulting in more joblessness and city centre closures,” he said.

Councillors across the political spectrum praised council staff for their efforts in delivering services during the pandemic.

Full council approved the 4.99% tax increase with 29 councillors voting in favour, 18 against and one abstention.