Council tax payers set for 1.9 per cent rise from April...

Council taxpayers in Coventry can expect to pay an extra 1.9 per cent from April with councillors set to agree the first rise in three years.



The increase is up for approval at the city council’s budget meeting on Tuesday and a report to councillors says this will add an extra £25.68 to the average Band D household bill.

The average council tax bill in Coventry will now be £843.16, the report says.

However, those who receive council tax support - approximately one in five households - will see their bills stay the same.

The rise in the council’s share of the council tax bill (90 per cent) from April - the equivalent of 30p a week - will be joined by an increase from West Midlands Fire Authority and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Bob Jones, who both put up their share by 1.99 per cent.

This means £1.05 for the year for the fire service and £3 a year towards policing the city.

As expected, the city council’s budget for 2014/15 has dropped by £10million on last year to £258.5m.

This is mainly due to the continued drop in Government funding, which is down £18.8m (10.6 per cent) from 2013/14, and has seen the city receive £167 less per household since 2010.

The council has already overcome a budget gap of £12.4m for 2014/15, but councillors are warning of a potential gap of £44.2m by 2016/17.

A capital programme of £142m has been outlined in the budget with £36m put aside for schools, including increasing the number of primary school places.

Other projects include £38m for transport and highway infrastructure and £13m over the next two years for the NUCKLE Nuneaton to Coventry rail scheme stopping at the Ricoh Arena.

Children’s social care and domestic violence support services budgets are being protected, while cash is also ready to plough in to a number of regeneration projects across the city, including the new Friargate development.

Coun Damian Gannon, cabinet member for strategic finance and resources, said: “Coventry is facing significant budget challenges, with government cuts eroding our services.

“We are doing our best to safeguard services for the city’s most vulnerable and protect the services that are most important to the people of Coventry.

“The fact is that by 2016, Coventry will have had its government funding cut by nearly a half since 2010. We have to deal with these brutal cuts in the best way that we can.”

It's no coincidence that the rise is just below the 2% threshold at which the council would be forced to hold a local referendum. Even so, the council has lost a huge amount of government funding by imposing any increase at all.

Councillors approve 1.9per cent council tax rise for Coventry

Councillors have set out their budget for the coming 12 months which will see a 1.9 per cent increase in council tax.

The proposals by the Labour-controlled Coventry City Council were approved this afternoon after a three-hour debate in the council chamber.

An amendment by the city’s Conservatives, which included a council tax freeze, was put forward but voted against by 39 to 11.

The original budget was eventually voted through 40 votes to 11.

Taxpayers in the average Band D household will fork out an extra £28.77 a year from April - made up of a £25.68 rise in the city council’s contribution (90 per cent) and a further £3.09 from the police and fire authority, who have both laid out plans for 1.99 per cent increases.

The council’s budget for 2014/15 will drop by £10million compared to last year to £258.5million, mainly due to another decrease in Government funding - down £18.8million (10.6 per cent) from 2013/14.

Council chiefs will have a capital pot of £142million to dive in to with £36million put aside for schools, £38million for transport and highway infrastructure and £13million over the next two years for the NUCKLE Nuneaton to Coventry rail scheme stopping at the Ricoh Arena.

Coun Damian Gannon, cabinet member for strategic finance and resources, said: “There are some really big projects in the budget such as Friargate and huge road improvements.

“There’s also money for the potential of a hotel at the Ricoh Arena and also the NUCKLE scheme, and we are also looking to improve internet and ICT facilities around the city.

“So it is good that councillors have chosen to approve this budget.”

The Conservative’s alternative budget saw a freeze on council tax as well as extra funding to deal with houses of multiple occupation, residents’ parking schemes and the introduction of 20mph zones in the city.

Conservative spokesman for finance, Coun Tim Sawdon - who described the Labour’s budget as “bnokers economics” - said: “The Labour-controlled council is ignoring the offer from Government to freeze council tax to the tune of £1.2million and instead is raising council tax by nearly two per cent.

“This comes at a time when household budgets are under pressure and we consider it quite wrong for the council to impose this increase and turn down the increased financial support from central government.”

it quite wrong for the council to impose this increase and turn down the increased financial support from central government.

'twill hopefully be remembered come the local elections

it quite wrong for the council to impose this increase and turn down the increased financial support from central government.

'twill hopefully be remembered come the local elections

Not a chance Rebbonk.

People will blame the government for the increase rather than the council and vote accordingly.

Sadly, I think you are right.