Tax hike approved in Ashfield amid ‘tough times’ for council’s budgets

Ashfield residents will pay the district council more tax next year to support the authority during what it says are "tough times" for its ability to deliver services.

Residents across the district will pay Ashfield District Council 2.94 per cent more from next month after the full council meeting approved the hike.

Labour voted against the plans while the Conservatives abstained.

Neither opposition group spoke in the debate as it was passed with 23 votes for, two against and two abstentions.

The Ashfield Independents administration said the rise, which works out at £5.75 more per year, was "regrettable" but came amidst drops in central government funding.

The increase will take the total paid for the authority up to £201.21 for the year in Band D properties.

It will also hit Band A homes – which make up the majority of all properties – with a £3.83 annual rise and a £134.14 total bill for the council's services.

For Band B homes, the rise works out at £4.72 and takes the total precept for the authority up to £156.50.

And Band C homes will pay the council £5.11 more from April, giving the authority £178.85 in total.

A full council meeting took place on Thursday evening (March 2), during which the tax plans were discussed as part of wider budget proposals.

Speaking in the meeting, Cllr David Hennigan (Ind) said: "It's important to set out the context of this budget.

"Ashfield has had a massive funding reduction [from the Government], leaving us really struggling and facing difficult decisions like the one this evening.

"We're doing more with less. It's not just councils like Ashfield taking this tough decision, Labour councils like Gedling and Nottingham say they have no choice.

"We're struggling across the board, times are tough and we're all feeling the bite of inflation and the cost of living.

"But if we don't act, we simply wouldn't have the money we need to continue to fund our vital frontline services."

His comments follow Government data showing the authority was the second-worst nationally for cuts to its spending abilities on core services.

The figures, published in December, showed the council will have 10.5 per cent less money from April compared with 2015/16.

Only one council out of 333 nationally had worse figures, with the authority expected to have £12.8m available to spend on core services next year compared with £14.3m eight years ago.

Cllr John Wilmott (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall North, said "nobody wants to put up council tax" but says it will "mitigate financial pressures".

He added: "This works out at 11p per week on Band D and 7p per week on Band A.

"But this comes alongside a continual reduction from central Government, and inflation has escalated – there are financial challenges ahead."

Bills in Ashfield will increase further from April after Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry (Con), the Nottinghamshire Fire Authority and the county council also approved separate plans.

Mrs Henry will hike annual bills by £9.96 for Band A or £14.94 for Band D homes, while the fire service is increasing bills by £5 for all homes.

Conservative-run Nottinghamshire County Council is also increasing bills by £53.05 for Band A or £79.57 for Band D properties.

When factoring in the emergency service increases, Ashfield Council's rise and the increase at County Hall, total annual bills in the district will be:

• Band A: £1,523.15 (total increase of £71.84)
• Band B: £1,777.27 (total increase of £83.22)
• Band C: £2,030.44 (total increase of £94.12)
• Band D: £2,283.63 (total increase of £105.26)