Housing money. Pic: Pic: www.TaxFix.co.uk

Staffordshire County Council has approved plans to raise council tax by 2.95% in a bid to plug a £35million hole in its finances.

The increase – which equates to around an additional 10p per day for an average Band D property – is needed to help tackle long-term funding concerns, according to the authority.

A rise in the county council’s council tax precept was part of a wide range of measures agreed to help plug a funding gap.

However, plans to axe school crossing wardens and restrict concessionary bus travel have all been ditched following public pressure.

Cllr Philip Atkins. Pic: M Holland
Cllr Philip Atkins. Pic: M Holland

But Cllr Philip Atkins said the increase to council tax was necessary.

“By taking early, decisive action we are now in a position, not only to deliver a balanced budget for 2019/20, but also have put in place a robust financial plan for the next five years.

“We have been honest with residents about the scale of the challenge and the difficult decisions we have made and will continue to face.  We have listened too about their concerns and responded where possible.

“We successfully secured one-off  funding from Government for highways and social care to help ease immediate pressures,   but we have made it clear that a long-term national solution for funding care must be urgently addressed and we  will continue to work with our MPs to press the Government on this.”

The rising cost of adult social care is one of the issues Cllr Atkins said is increasing the pressure on the council’s finances – and insisted communities would still need to play their part in plugging gaps in some local services.

“In order to support a growing ageing population, increasingly we will all have to do more and pay a little more to continue to protect the most vulnerable in our communities,” he said.

“While councils can no longer do or fund everything we would like to, we remain focused on supporting communities to find their own local alternative and affordable options to help themselves, their families, their friends and their neighbours even more.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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Burntwood Bloke
5 years ago

Wow. Surprised. Does that cover the £49 million Friarsgate Fiasco blackhole?

//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2018/05/31/report-reveals-friarsgate-funding-black-hole-lichfield-district-council-plans-to-cover-could-be-as-much-as-49million/

…and the £90,000 per year to sweep it under the carpet?

//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2018/10/29/criticism-over-lichfield-district-councils-plan-to-spend-90000-on-two-officials-to-oversee-new-friarsgate-proposals/

We’re so lucky to live in Lichfield. Luckily we have an MP who listens to people and doesn’t constantly go on about how great he and the city apparently is…

…oh wait.+

Asellus aquaticus
5 years ago

@Burntwood Bloke – no, because this is a Staffordshire County Council increase, not a Lichfield District Council one. :(