Staffordshire County Council members have given the go-ahead to raise council tax by almost 5% from April.
The hike, which was approved this week, means that families in Band D properties will pay £1,544.64 to the county council for the year – an increase of £73.41 compared to last year’s bill.
The proposed 4.99% council tax increase includes 2% specifically for adult social care.
Cllr Ian Parry, cabinet member for finance and resources, told the meeting:
“We have managed to balance an ambitious corporate plan for this council and this county with a responsible attitude to finance that means we offer a balanced budget for the next five years – that can’t be said in many places.
“Perhaps it’s because we kept our head when those about us were losing theirs, perhaps it is that we were taking brave steps to do things that needed to be done, at the time they needed to be done, to get us to the place where we are now.
“Perhaps the £137million costs we have taken out of this council over the last seven years is something that helps us get into this stable position. That’s £137million, not of our money, but of taxpayers’ money in this county – and we still have libraries, investment in our highways and schools.
“The risks and pressures ahead of us are largely to do with the things that are our paramount duty here at the county, which is looking after people.
“The pressure upon SEND, SEND transport and education plans is increasing and is a cost pressure on the council. The number of children in our system, which is showing signs of slowing and slightly reducing, means that we have to pay for all of those placements. Those are the places where costs are rising significantly.
“On top of that, we will be investing more in this county over the next year. My cabinet colleagues over the next 12 months will be announcing plans to invest in things like our libraries, countryside, highways, environment and moving towards carbon neutral – a wide range of investments that will improve quality of life.”
Cllr Ian Parry, Staffordshire County Council
Investment of more than £80million in highways is also proposed, including £40.4million earmarked for carriageway maintenance.
But one member called for extra roads funding from another source too.
Cllr Nigel Yates said:
“This is very much a bare bones budget, which is consumed by statutory services and hampered by short-term funding settlements from central government.
“The budget is impaired by the downgrading of children’s services – I am aware that there is a plan associated with that and we would support the action which is taken.
“I am disappointed that the divisional highways programme money given to individual councillors is meagre to say the least. It’s been reduced over the years and affected by inflation. It doesn’t really deliver anything for me as an individual councillor and I’m sure for every councillor.
“What I would like to do is table an amendment to the budget. The amendment is that the council redistributes any council tax levy, for example empty homes premium or second homes premium, imposed within their districts or boroughs, proportionately to their councillors as an enhancement to those members’ divisional highways programme budget.”
Cllr Nigel Yates, Staffordshire County Council
But members at the meeting were told this would not be possible because the funds generated from the extra tax levy would go to district and borough councils, not the county authority.
Cllr Jeremy Pert said:
“It is not within this council’s ability to impose its will or its thoughts on other sovereign councils – and as a result the amendment should fall.”
Cllr Jeremy Pert, Staffordshire County Council
