A RISE in Council Tax for residents in the Lutterworth area has been recommended by Harborough District Council’s (HDC) Cabinet.
Council bosses want to increase its share of Council Tax by £5 a year per Band D household – the maximum rise permitted by Government – to help close a budget gap.
HDC says it still faces ‘significant financial challenges’ after a review of its services last year to try and ease an annual shortfall of £4million fell £900,000 short of the target.
The council says the pandemic has also resulted in ‘significant loss of revenue’.
And its funding from Government has dried up since the Revenue Support Grant – which provided HDC with over £2.3million in 2013-14 – was phased out in 2019-20.
The council says there will be continued investment into community support, protecting the environment, business support, leisure facilities, new technology, community assets and infrastructure.
HDC has also announced plans to launch a Platinum Jubilee Community Capital Fund, which will allow local organisations to bid for funding to help secure or develop significant capital assets as a lasting commemoration of The Queen’s historic 70 year milestone.
HDC Deputy Leader and finance spokesman Coun James Hallam said: “While we have proposed an increase in our share of the Council Tax bill, we believe this still represents excellent value for money, with the continued delivery of high quality services and significant investment which will see tangible benefits for residents and businesses.
“It’s also worth noting that since 2011, there has only been an increase in our share of the Council Tax bill of just over £8. There has been in-depth work to identify savings across the council, to address financial challenges and losses in revenue due to the pandemic, as we focus positively on delivering our vision through our revised Corporate Plan.”
The Council Tax bill contributes to public services and also includes precepts from Leicestershire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, and Parish Councils.
The Cabinet’s recommendations on the budget will be voted on by the full council on February 21.
