Council Tax to rise by 2.99% to fund more services, says Cheshire East

Householders in Nantwich and Crewe face a further 2.99% rise on the Council Tax bills from April, it has been agreed.

Cheshire East Council says the rise is needed to help fund more frontline services.

The rise is an extra 78p per week to the average household bill.

A Band D property bill will rise from £1,404.28 to £1,446.27.

The authority says 1% of the proposed tax rise will be ring-fenced to help meet financial pressures in children’s services.

The authority’s Cabinet has backed the plan, which follows a consultation period on initial proposals set out before Christmas.

It also plans to spend £270 million over the next three years on improving the region’s much-maligned highways.

The provisional budget headlines include:

● An increase of £13.1m in overall net revenue spending on services
● A reduction of £2.8m in government grants
● An increase of £10.9m in council tax receipts, including from housing growth and previous year surplus
● An increase in business rate income of £5m

Councillor Paul Bates (pictured), Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for finance and communications, said: “This financial year once again presented a number of challenges, in common with all local authorities.

“Issues such as inflationary pressure of £23.3m and rising demand in care services for children in Cheshire East were compounded by falls in government funding – including a £5.4m reduction in revenue support grant.

“Our local response to these pressures continues to focus on innovation and creativity with a clear emphasis on further improving efficiency, productivity and establishing more-effective local delivery of services.

“Our ability to create the best conditions for private sector investment, economic growth and prosperity will be critical to the continued success of the borough as the council’s reliance on locally-generated income increases.

“In the final year of the Corporate Plan 2017-20, the council is able to demonstrate the ongoing achievement of positive outcomes for local people.

“Education achievement rates for pupils in Cheshire East remain as one of the highest levels in the country and social care for children and adults are receiving higher levels of investment in the medium term.

“Infrastructure projects continue to unlock land and housebuilding numbers are exceeding targets.

“Employment is high and the number of businesses in the borough is higher than Manchester.

“Our recycling rates are in the top 10 per cent of all local authorities and our much-used libraries are in the top five in the country – while life expectancy for Cheshire East residents is also higher than both regional and national averages.

“Since local government reorganisation, the cumulative increase in council tax by Cheshire East Council is significantly lower than inflation and is among the lowest of any unitary authority in England. Cheshire East is simply a great place to be.”

Alex Thompson, head of finance and performance, said: “Against a challenging financial backdrop, it is pleasing to note the council has continued to perform strongly, delivering positive outcomes in each of the six areas identified by the corporate plan.

“The costs related to increasing demand for services are being mitigated by the council’s success in supporting local development and managing the costs of providing services.”

The budget and Council Tax for 2019-20 is expected to be rubber-stamped by councillors at the February 21 full council meeting.