Telford & Wrekin Council are proposing to freeze general council tax for a second year running in recognition of the cost of living squeeze on household budgets.
It means that the council is expected to have the lowest council tax in the Midlands and one of the lowest in the country for a council delivering similar services.
Confirmation of the freeze comes as the council’s budget proposals for 2023/24 are put forward for consideration by the council’s Cabinet on 5 January before being opened to public consultation.
Like councils across the country, Telford & Wrekin Council faces a significant challenge in balancing the budget in the coming years, but a strong track record of financial management means the council can continue to invest in the borough whilst keeping general council tax low.
Councillor Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council (Labour) said: “The government have assumed that every council will increase local council tax bills by 5% next year – a 3% general council tax rise and 2% rise towards the costs of adult social care.
“During a cost of living crisis, we’re not willing to do this. We’re firmly on the side of our residents and want to keep people’s bills as low as we can. This is why we’re looking to freeze general council tax for a second year.
“People in the borough living in a band D property already pay around £228 a year less than the average for the Midlands. We expect this saving to be even greater next year for our award winning services.
“We can only do this because of many years of strong financial management.”
The council’s budget plans set out the impact of the national cost of living crisis, with high rates of inflation costing the council more money to do the same things, at a time when more and more people need the council’s help.
Councillor Rae Evans, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Customer Services (Labour) said:
“Over the current and next financial year, we’re investing £12 million to help people through the cost of living crisis – extra money for our Crisis Assistance Fund, support for local foodbanks and supermarket food vouchers, warm spaces and home energy efficiency are just some of the things we’ll fund – but one of our biggest challenges remains the cost of care.
“We’re expecting care for our most vulnerable children and adults to take almost 70p of every £1 we spend on the day to day running of the council next year. In total we need to put over £9.75m more into services to protect and support the most vulnerable members of our community.
“The government’s 2% Adult Social Care precept will raise £1.588 million towards the £61.6m million needed to pay for the care for some of our oldest residents next year and will cost the average household 43p per week.”
The council’s budget proposals also set out a range of investments that the council propose to make the borough cleaner, greener, safer and more enjoyable.
Residents are being asked for their views on the budget proposals as part of a four week consultation which run from 6 January to 5 February 2023.
More information on the budget proposals can be found on the council's website and comments can be sent to yourviewsmatter@telford.gov.uk
Anyone needing the budget proposals in an alternative format can contact Telford & Wrekin Council on 01952 382104.
