Staffordshire residents to face steep increases in council tax bills

Staffordshire County Council, Cannock Chase District Council and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service have all signalled their intent to raise their precepts – following in the footsteps of Staffordshire Police.

Residents will be hit hardest by the county council’s proposal to increase its share by 5.95 per cent – which will see those in a Band D property pay £68 more a year. Three per cent of the increase is ring-fenced for social care as permitted by the Government. But the authority has said it will mean investing a record £310m in social care and ploughing £5m to tackle potholes. Bosses will meet this week to rubber-stamp the hike.

While on Thursday chiefs on Cannock Chase District Council’s cabinet progressed an increase of 1.95 per cent - £4.07 more for Band D residents - which will now be put to the full council next month.

And Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority have been recommended to raise their precept by either 2.75 per cent or 2.99 per cent in February – both will mean another £2 or so on the Band D bill.

This, combined with the £11.40 extra incurred by the police’s 6.29 per cent increase put forward earlier this week, means residents face paying more than £80 more in 2018/19.

County Council leader Philip Atkins said: “We have a good story to tell here in Staffordshire.

“We have low unemployment, a good children’s service and our economic programme has brought in almost £400 million of investment – with every pound from the county council being matched by £15 from the private sector or Government and once complete it will see the creation of over 13,000 jobs.

“We will continue to do everything we can to build on this achievement.

“However, as a local authority we cannot spend more money than we have coming in and, in order to try and close the increasing financial gap caused by increasing demand in social care over the next four years, we will all have to work together to help each other more in our communities and take steps now to live out our lives longer, healthier and more independently where we can, so the county council can focus on those who really need our help.”

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Councils have been raising tax year in, year out for decades, and continue to demand even more.

“Councillors should remember that council tax is a major burden on residents and a huge contributor to the cost of living.”