Tewkesbury Borough Council has approved a tax rise of 3.87% for the upcoming financial year.
Councillors voted to approve the council’s budget proposals at a meeting last night (February 22).
The approval means the portion of the council tax which goes to Tewkesbury Borough Council will increase by £5 for band D properties. This brings the total to £134.36.
This increase is forecast to generate an extra £179,056 of income to support the council’s main services in 2022/23.
Finance and asset management cabinet member Robert Vines (C, Badgeworth) said: “It’s the sixth lowest council tax of similar sized authorities in the country which we are really proud of.
“That’s why people want to come and live in Tewkesbury. It’s really good value and we are having a lot of housing being built and a low council tax is part of the reason why people want to come and live here.”
He said it was a really difficult time for local government finance.
“This year has been particularly bad and trying. But the finance team at Tewkesbury Borough Council is very good.”
The Liberal Democrat councillors abstained from the vote. And deputy group leader Richard Stanley explained why.
He said: “The Conservative Government has squeezed local government funding settlements.
“Despite promising voters lower council tax, Conservative councillors are now in the unenviable situation of being forced to raise council tax to the maximum at a time when many residents are struggling with the cost of living crisis.”
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter