County’s 3% tax hike call

Nottinghamshire County Council’s cabinet has proposed a rise in council tax of 3% next year which, it says, is 1.2 points below inflation.

A decision will be made in February, after consultations.

This year the owners of a Band B property paid £874.76 for their share of the county council tax. This will rise by £26.24 if the 3% is agreed. Those in a Band D property paid £1,124.69 and this will go up by £33.74.

The council wants to spend an extra £5m on new services including working with children and families to prevent criminal activity, reducing crime and the fear of crime, and more activities for young people outside school.

It will help with increasing social care services to those with moderate needs and setting up two teams to deal with minor problems on the roads such as potholes, damaged signs, and blocked drains.

There will also be money for a new visitors’ centre in Sherwood Forest.

Nottinghamshire police have yet to make a decision on their tax demand, although the government is giving it £4.5m more than last year’s £132.4m, an increase of 3.4%.

The fire service is holding consultations on its plans to take 3-4% more. The service has an annual budget of just over £41m.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has yet to make a decision on its tax demand.

The district council collects all the taxes, for distribution to the other authorities.

Lincolnshire County Council is recommending a 3.5% increase on last year’s £172.6m council tax, which will contribute to a £1bn total budget, again to be confirmed in February.

Lincolnshire County Council will be spending an extra £5.2m a year on roads and transport including £1.2m on rapid response teams to deal with high priority highways issues and £500,000 on extra drainage cleansing and jetting to help reduce the risk of flooding.

Adult social care will receive an added £5.7m.

There is also extra money for other high priorities including reducing crime and disorder, and economic regeneration.