Minimum £53 annual council tax rise approved for all homes across Nottinghamshire county

All Nottinghamshire households will see their council tax increase from April after the County Council approved a 4.84 per cent rise.

During its budget full council meeting on Thursday, the Conservative-run authority approved the increase, which will hit all households with an annual increase of a minimum of £53.

The rise includes 2.84 per cent to fund standard services and a further two per cent for a ringfenced fund specifically for adult social care.

It will mean Band A homes, which make up the largest number of houses across the tax banding system, must pay the council £53.05 more from April 1.

This takes the total paid to the authority for the year up to £1,149.11 in Band A properties.

Band B homes will see bills rise by £61.88 to £1,340.62 in total, with Band C bills rising by £70.73 to £1,532.14.

Band D homes, which are the average calculation for council tax bands, face a £79.57 annual rise to take the total county council portion up to £1,723.66.

These rises apply only to homes in Nottinghamshire County which includes Hucknall – households in the city pay council tax to Nottingham City Council, which is yet to confirm its plans but has said it wants to bring in a five per cent increase.

Commenting during the budget meeting, Cllr Richard Jackson (Con), cabinet member for finance, explained the authority's reasons for the rise.

He said: "Residents understand the challenges we face as a council and don't expect us to do the impossible.

"We understand the cost of living challenges our residents face. We have reviewed our options very carefully and believe it's right and responsible to recommend a two per cent adult social care precept increase.

"Regarding [standard services] council tax, I am not recommending the maximum three per cent rise being implemented by many other councils.

"Instead, I propose a council tax increase of only 2.84 per cent for the coming year.

"We're only asking the Nottinghamshire residents for the amount we believe we need, and not a penny more."

But Labour objected to the tax proposal. Cllr Jim Creamer, who represents Carlton West, said: "The council tax increase is 95 per cent of the maximum possible and is not a discount to boast about.

"It's 6p per week below the maximum and won't put food on people's tables.

"It won't go far after the hundreds of pounds added to residents' mortgages after the Government crashed the economy with the reckless mini-budget.

"The cost of these decisions are being shouldered by the poorest residents, who have had to watch their local services be cut or undelivered, and they're expected to pay council tax rises year after year."

The Independent Alliance opposition group, which put forward alternative budget documents, proposed to maintain the 4.84 per cent rise.

The group said it "tried to find a way" to decrease the tax burden during discussions with finance officers and described Conservative tax plans as balancing the books "off the backs of hardworking taxpayers".

The full council meeting approved the council tax plans by 33 votes to 27.

It comes just days after Caroline Henry (Con), Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, had her £14.94 Band D increase approved.

Her annual precept, which helps to fund Nottinghamshire Police, will rise by £9.96 for Band A homes, £11.62 for Band B and £13.28 for Band C.

The Nottinghamshire Fire Authority, which sets budgets for the fire service, is also planning a £5 increase for every home in the county.

It means all county Band A homes will pay at least £68.01 more from April, when totalling the county council, police and fire service increases.

The same trio of tax hikes will also lead to Band B homes paying at least £78.50 more, with Band C facing a minimum £89.01 increase and £99.51 for Band D.

These could rise further depending on decisions taken by local district or borough councils, which can increase bills by 2.99 per cent.

Mansfield District Council has frozen its portion of the bill, meaning residents in the district will only pay increases for the county council, police and fire services.

A 2.99 per cent district council increase is likely to mean paying about £3.50 more for Band A, £4.10 for Band B, £4.70 for Band C and £5.30 for Band D.