Tax rise backed despite funding

Lincolnshire County Council is set to press ahead with a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax – despite additional funding being announced for local authorities by central government.

Although details regarding the portion of extra funds heading to Lincolnshire are not clear, the planned increase was approved this week.
The increase will see Band D properties with a bill of £1,578.69 from the county council – a rise of £55.06.
A further £600m funding to local councils was announced by the government last month, but the details remain unclear.
Members of the council’s executive proposed a 4.99 per cent rise as the preferred option.
Consultation with the public ended on January 30 and more than half of those who took part (994) supported a 2.99 per cent increase.
Continued pressure on household budgets was the main subject of comments received from residents.
“The majority view supporting the lowest increase in council tax is wholly understandable, because it has been and continues to be a challenging time economically,” said a report to members of the council’s executive this week.
“The proposed council tax increase is the option least favoured by the public,” the reports said.
“Despite the increase proposed, the council still expects to be in the lowest quartile of county council precept rates. Lincolnshire currently has the third lowest rate of all county authorities,” it adds.
The government announcement came during the finalising of this year’s budget and ahead of the final settlement, due this month.
But the money, including £3m for those struggling with Internal Drainage Board levies, is for one year and will not address long term funding issues.
The final bill for households will also include a district, parish and police precept.
lThe Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner is looking to put his share of the council tax up by £12.96 per annum.
The government set a cap of a £13 rise.
It would see a Band D property pay £304.20 in taxes to the force across the next year, which is up nearly 4.5 per cent on last year’s total of £291.24.
Around 70 per cent of police funding comes from central government, and the rest coming from local taxes.
Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones said 3,434 people had completed a survey on the tax increase and that just three per cent wanted a reduction in funding and 81 per cent backing an increase.
The PCC’s report says these results demonstrate a “long-standing belief across the county that Lincolnshire Police is underfunded.”