Council tax payers warned of tough times ahead

Council tax payers are being warned their local authority will need extra financial support from the government in the coming year.

West Berkshire Council is almost certain to raise residents' council tax bills by five per cent from April and it says even that extra money won't be enough to pay for all the services it provides.

It's also planning to make a small number of staff redundant to reduce its headcount.

Council leader Jeff Brooks is now drawing up a letter to ministers asking for government assistance.

The backdrop to all of this is a reduction in one of the main income streams that West Berkshire and every other council rely on, the government's Revenue Support Grant.

West Berkshire says the amount of money it brings in from this grant will fall from £27 million to £16 million in two years.

With inflation rising and the cost of essential services such as children's' and adult social care continuing to climb, it says it will need a further injection of government cash to keep going.

The government says it is aware that many councils are, like West Berkshire, struggling to pay the bills but says its recent decision to give local authorities a three year settlement, rather than the current one year one will help them plan better for the future.

West Berkshire Council leader, Liberal Democrat politician Brooks agrees that will be of some help but says the fact some of the money the council brings in will be shifted to other less affluent authorities in the north by the current government means

"The financial pressures are huge...we have very tough decisions to make" he said.