Council tax rise of 2.9% set for next year

Lincolnshire County Council has voted to raise its share of council tax by 2.9% from April.

The increase will equate to an extra 90p a week for a band D property, and will predominantly pay for the increase in costs and demand for social care for older people.

At a full council meeting on Friday, councillors also decided to the freeze the amount they receive in allowances.

Reform UK council leader Sean Matthews said: "Given the state this country's finances are in, it would be ridiculous to pass a low council tax increase and then give ourselves a big fat pay rise."

Proposals to freeze council tax by the Conservatives and to raise it by nearly 5% from Independents were both rejected.

The authority has been awarded an extra £50m by the government for the next financial year, giving it more breathing room than expected.

Tom Catton, the executive member for resources, said: "The message from residents has been they are worried about increased council tax but also about the council not balancing the books and cutting services."

Conservative Richard Davies said: "We've got £50m extra in additional income, and aren't in financial emergency. This is the first year we can do it responsibly."

On the other side, Independents proposed a 4.99% council tax rise – the highest possible rise – saying it could be used to regenerate poorer areas.

Independent Richard Cleaver said: "Communities are crying out for additional funding to address long-term issues neglected for too long. We didn't expect these extra resources, let's not squander them."

Meanwhile, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, an independent panel had suggested that councillors be given a 13% rise in their basic allowance, from £12,461 to £14,000.

The panel recommended the increase because the current level was below average, but the suggestion was rejected.

The authority has the fifth-lowest level of basic allowances out of 25 councils of similar size and workload.

Members decided that extra compensation for people with other roles, such as sitting on the executive or leading committees, would also be frozen.

Liberal Democrat Matt Boles said some level of allowances was needed to allow less-affluent people to stand for office.

"Councillors who work full-time may have to reduce days or take unpaid leave. We should encourage a cross-section of society – we don't want a chamber full of the rich and retired," he said.

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