Westmorland and Furness Council Proposes 4.99% Council Tax Increase

A local authority has put forward a proposal for a 4.99% increase in council tax for the upcoming year, representing the highest permissible rise. Westmorland and Furness Council indicated that this measure is necessary to address “growing pressures from demand and legislative changes,” comprising a 2.99% general increase and an additional 2% specifically allocated for adult social care. Local authorities in England, which are responsible for delivering adult social care services, are permitted to increase tax rates by as much as 5%, following the government’s confirmation of its adherence to the existing cap. Should the proposed 4.99% increase receive approval, the Liberal Democrat-led council anticipates its total budget revenue derived from council tax to reach £184.53 million. According to the council’s report, “It is important to state that council tax accounts for over half of the net income for the council and is therefore the main source of income for the council.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that this proposed rise would set the Band D council tax charge at £1,918.97 for the 2025/26 financial year, marking an annual increase of £91.21. Furthermore, previously sanctioned council plans to implement a 100% council tax premium on second homes are scheduled to take effect in April, projected to generate an additional £10.6 million in revenue for the authority. The report concluded by stating the council’s responsibility to identify lasting adjustments to the forthcoming budget, while “also responding to the growing pressures from demand and legislative changes and focus the spend on areas that support our priorities and vision.” It further added, “We also need to make the best and most efficient use of our resources to deliver ongoing improvements to services for our residents and communities and demonstrate that the council can deliver value for money.” A budget consultation is scheduled to be launched by Westmorland and Furness Council on 17 December at Barrow Town Hall. For updates, follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.