Council tax set in Herefordshire

Herefordshire Council has set its council tax increase of 4.99% council for the next financial year.

Councillors had previously approved a £161m budget and associated tax requirement of £112.9m at a meeting on February 12.

The council tax for a band D property to be paid to Herefordshire Council for the year is set at £1,652.30,

Today, councillors have approved the council tax amounts for each category of home in the county including precepts from West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority and town and parish councils for the financial year 2021/22.

The precepts for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia increased 6.66%, and Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority rose 1.97%.

The parish council precepts for the new financial year total £4,883,501 which amounts to an average band D council tax charge of £71.44.

This represents an average increase of 2.3% from last year.

Finance and corporate services cabinet member Liz Harvey said: “Herefordshire Council is the billing authority and also collects council tax.

“This report seeks to approve the council tax amount for each category of dwelling in Herefordshire including precepts collected on behalf of West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority and town and parish councils for the financial year 2021/22.

“I’d like to take a moment to congratulate the parishes who’ve been so active in their communities over the last lockdown year.

“The role of the parish council is often underestimated. In these Covid times many parish councils have gone the extra mile have gone the extra mile to support their communities and to provide additional funding to volunteer groups working with people isolated and in lockdown.

“All the decisions have been made by the various precepting authorities. This is a formal process and I recommend the report to council.”

The council approved the report by 37 votes to 14.