5% rise in Coventry council tax confirmed...

[dutchman]

Coventry City Council voted the council tax rise through at a meeting



Coventry taxpayers will be hit by a bill rise of 5% this year, it's been confirmed. City councillors voted for a rise of 4.9% in council tax at a meeting yesterday (February 20) - near the maximum amount allowed by the government.

When adding in police and fire contributions, it is a rise of 5% and means a typical household in the city will pay £1.60 more in tax per week from April. This adds up to an average £83 extra for the 2024-25 year.

The rise was voted through by a majority of councillors at the Labour-run authority. Cabinet Member for Finance Cllr Richard Brown told the meeting: "I recognise this is a challenging time for the people of this city and the proposal to increase council tax has not been made lightly.

"As I mentioned, the government's funding package and its increase in core spending power relies on councils to provide a significant part of new funding through an increase in council tax by the maximum permitted 5%.

"This Labour administration's priority continues to be one of providing as good a service and providing as much help as possible to those most in need."

Some people responding to the consultation were understanding of a council tax rise, he said. But "understandably in the current climate" many would not be in favour, the Cheylesmore councillor added.

"With the cards dealt to us, I think we've found the right balance in this budget, and would remind colleagues that were we not to increase council tax the lost revenue would need to be found from even higher savings within services," he added.

"This would not just affect our service to residents next year but for every year after that, reflecting a permanent reduction in the council tax base and ongoing sustainability."

Last year when the council sought to raise tax by 4.99%, the opposition Conservative group raised an amendment to reduce it to 1%, which was rejected.

But yesterday group leader Cllr Gary Ridley said the party would be supporting the rise in council tax, though it did not support the overall budget. The rise of 4.9% includes an adult social care precept of 2%. It comes as over 100 top-tier councils in the UK are planning to hike tax by 4.99% - the maximum amount allowed without a referendum.

Some 94% of the 136 authorities that have revealed their proposals are looking to raise tax by this amount, according to data from the County Councils Network released today. And four councils, including Birmingham, have been given permission by government to raise tax bills by 10%.

[rebbonk]

Scandalous! And the muppets that have mismanaged the finances for years are left unchallenged in situ!

[dutchman]

We've yet to receive confirmation of the spending cuts which may include an additional rise in council tax for some low-income residents.