'Enormous' pressure blamed for maximum tax rise

A local authority whose leader says it is facing "enormous" financial pressure amid rising costs in social care and special educational needs will raise council tax by the maximum amount allowed.

Cambridgeshire County Council is to put up its share of the bill by 4.99%, which is equivalent to about £84 a year for a Band D property.

Liberal Democrat council leader Lucy Nethsingha said it had taken a "responsible and prudent approach so we can invest in the vital services residents rely on most", with about half of its £1.26bn budget being spent on adult and children's services.

But Conservative group leader Ross Martin said: "We don't have a vision unleashed, we have a tax burden unleashed."

The 4.99% figure comprises a 2.99% increase in the basic council tax precept and a 2% increase for the adult social care precept.

The council said it had allocated an extra £20m for highways maintenance and an extra £14.7m for adult social care providers, and it planned to create 3,500 new primary school places.

Reform UK had proposed an amendment to the budget, capping the increase to 3.99%, funded by taking money out of anti-poverty reserves and funds towards "nature recovery plans", but that was rejected.

The council said it was "prioritising £1m to continue holiday meal vouchers for the children most in need, through to the end of summer 2026".

Labour had its amendment, which included plans to extend the scheme to the end of March 2027, rejected, with the Lib Dems saying the council was not allowed to use the money that way.

Nethsingha said it had "been the most difficult budget to balance in more than four years as leader".

She added: "Rising costs in children's and adult social care and in special educational needs are putting enormous pressure on our finances, and these statutory services for our most vulnerable residents now account for by far the largest part of our budget".

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