Cambridgeshire council tax set to rise

The Conservative group, which has the majority on the county council, said it is proposing the increase as a “last resort” as part of a package of measures to meet an anticipated £9.6 million budget gap for 2021/22.

The government is allowing councils such as the county council to raise council tax by 4.99 per cent. That limite is made up of a maximum 1.99 per cent increase in council tax, plus up to a further three per cent adult social care precept for councils with adult social care responsibilities, such as Cambridgeshire County Council.

Any decision to increase the council tax above 4.99 per cent would need to be put to a county-wide referendum.

The Conservatives on the county council intend to increase the council tax by 1.99 per cent, and add on a social care precept of one per cent. The increase would reduce the anticipated budget gap by around £3 million.

The change would increase the county council’s share of the council tax on an average property – Band D – from £1,312.11 a year to around £1,351.

The county council’s share of the council tax makes up just over 70 per cent of residents total bill, with district councils and the police and fire services also levying a charge.

The Conservative group on the county council increased the county council’s share of the council tax by 3.59 per cent last year.

The group said in its budget proposals: “Now more than ever we need to concentrate on keeping the burden of tax as low as possible for our residents.

“The coronavirus pandemic has impacted on our residents and their families, our way of life and the local as well as national economy. To automatically inflict the maximum possible increase, of 4.99 per cent, is unthinkable to us as Conservatives”.

They said they have “exhausted all other prudent financial measures” and will increase the council tax by as a “last resort”.

The official decision is expected to be made at a session of the full council on Tuesday (February 9). The Conservatives hold the majority on the council, meaning their proposals are highly likely to receive enough votes to pass.

The main opposition groups on county council are also proposing to increase council tax in their alternative budgets.

The Liberal Democrats are proposing to increase the council tax by 3.49 per cent – with a 1.99 per cent increase on the general council tax, and a 1.5 per cent increase on the adult social care precept.

The Labour group are proposing to increase the council tax by three per cent – comprised of a one per cent increase on the general council tax, and a two per cent increase on the adult social care precept.

The Conservative group says that it is a “low-cost authority with good outcomes,” and that it delivers its services for £155 less per resident than the England’s county council average.