Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Maximum 4.99 per cent rise to Cambridgeshire County Council tax bill approved




The average Band D householder in Cambridgeshire will pay an extra £73 a year to the county council in the coming year.

The authority agreed to raise its share of the council tax bill by the maximum 4.99 per cent allowed by the government without triggering a local referendum. It includes a two per cent precept for adult social care.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Cllr Elisa Meschini, leader of the Labour group, and Cllr Tom Sanderson, leader of the Independent group. Picture: Keith Heppell
Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Cllr Elisa Meschini, leader of the Labour group, and Cllr Tom Sanderson, leader of the Independent group. Picture: Keith Heppell

The decision from the joint administration of Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent councillors infuriated the Conservative opposition, who proposed a four per cent rise in an amendment that was defeated.

It means Band D households will pay £1.41 a week more in council tax to the authority from April, taking its share of the bill to £1,542.61 before precepts to other councils, the police, fire service and a new Combined Authority precept are added.

Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (Lib Dem, Newnham), leader of the county council, said: “Our financial situation this year was more challenging than ever. This time last year we projected that we needed to find £17million of savings. National and world events saw that double to over £30m by last autumn.”

The authority had witnessed increased demand for council services in the same time period, she added. And she pointed out that the the 9.5 per cent increase in core spending power that the government said local authorities’ would have was below inflation and assumed a maximum council tax rise.

She said the ongoing delay to the government’s fair funding review had also put the county at a “significant disadvantage” due to its higher than average population growth and increased costs.

She said: “We know when times are tough, the people who are most vulnerable rely on the services we provide even more. While we have made savings and efficiencies, we are proposing no actual cuts to services this budget.”

Cllr Nethsingha highlighted that the county council was planning to continue investment to provide free school meals vouchers, and in social care.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, deputy leader of the council. Picture: Keith Heppell
Cllr Elisa Meschini, deputy leader of the council. Picture: Keith Heppell

Cllr Elisa Meschini (Lab, King’s Hedges), deputy leader, said councillors were “extremely aware” of how “hard hitting” the increase in council tax would be for many, as she said there were councillors facing the same issues.

She said: “We have got people here who absolutely know what it is like to live a life completely choked by the expense of private rent, a life completely choked by the absence of the benefits you are entitled to, a life choked by the inability to provide for your dependents, and a life choked by health spending.

“All of these things exist on these benches because they exist out there in our county.

“We remain committed to what we intend to achieve with this increase in tax, because it comes exactly in order for us to be able to cushion the blow on those who are least able to afford it.”

Cllr Steve Count, leader of the Tory opposition. Picture: Keith Heppell
Cllr Steve Count, leader of the Tory opposition. Picture: Keith Heppell

Cllr Steve Count (Con, March North and Waldersey), leader of the Conservative opposition, said the council had to deliver care services and protect the vulnerable, but must be “efficient” and “only as a last resort” raise taxes.

The Tory amendment called for a £5m investment in road maintenance over the next five years, as well as £2.5m into flood defence and £1.25million into communities through a cultivate fund.

Cllr Alan Sharp (Con, Woodditton) said councillors would agreed Cambridgeshire “suffers from unfair funding”, but argued the authority had to “deal with what it has”.

He was concerned about transport funding, warning the impact of inflation on the cost of building materials and construction costs meant there was a “cut to that budget money”.

Cllr Steve Tierney (Conservative) said he did not believe his party’s amendment “went far enough” saying he would have preferred to see a council tax freeze, but said it was the better option of the two as residents were fed up with “eye-watering” bills.

“Let me tell you what the people in the deprived areas are saying to me. They're saying stop raising our council tax,” he told members.

“These are people who cannot afford an additional £5 or £10 or £20. They can't afford it.

These decisions affect them.They might not affect you lot. They might not affect people who are comfortable at home and can afford to pay their bills but for someone who doesn't know how they're going to manage their credit card debt and their their gas bill and their electric bill and their and their mortgage and their rents, these things matter, and you can't just gloss over it. It is a big deal.”

He pointed out that councillors had approved an increase in their own remuneration, which made it harder to justify the rise.

Cllr Richard Howitt (Lab, Petersfield) argued the Conservative amendment wanted the authority to “raid its reserves” to use “one-off money for recurring costs”.

A majority of councillors voted to approve the budget.

How much extra you will pay to the county council for the 2023-24 financial year

  • Band A £49
  • Band B £57
  • Band C £65
  • Band D £73
  • Band E £90
  • Band F, £106
  • Band G £122
  • Band H £147

The changes take effect from April.



Comments | 0
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More