Wolverhampton council tax to break £2,500 barrier with 4.99pc rise - Tories submit 3.99pc alternative plan
The annual council tax for an average band 'D' property in Wolverhampton is set to break the £2,500 barrier under plans due to be approved.
Councillor Stephen Simkins, leader of Wolverhampton Council, will asked members to approve a budget which will see the council tax rise by 4.99 per cent in April, taking it to £2,539 for an average band D home.
The charge for garden waste collections will also rise by 37.5 per cent to £55 under proposals by the controlling Labour group, although parking charges will be cut to £3.50 a day on some city-centre car parks.
The opposition Conservative group has submitted an alternative budget which would see council tax pegged to 3.99 per cent, scrap the increase to the garden waste services, and make the collections free of charge to pensioners.
The group said it would reduce the number of senior council officers and cut the council's hospitality budget to fund this.
Conservative group leader Councillor Simon Bennett said the council had increased council tax by the maximum permitted 4.99 per cent every year for more than a decade.
"They don’t even hesitate," he said. "They simply go straight to the referendum limit because they can.
“If they were legally allowed to increase it by more than 4.99% without asking residents, they would. That has been their pattern, maximum tax, every single year."
Councils are required to hold a referendum if they want to increase council tax by more than 4.99 per cent.
Councillor Bennett said under the Conservative plans, the ring-fenced adult social care precept of two per cent would be maintained, but the council would be required to find efficiencies.
He proposed reducing the number of senior officers by three, saving approximately £400,000 a year.
He called for a further £500,000 a year to be cut from the staffing budget.
“Residents are dealing with rising mortgages, rents, energy bills and food prices," he said.
"The answer cannot always be to take more from them. The council must tighten its belt just as households have had to do.
He said moderating the increase sent an important signal about financial discipline, accountability and respect for taxpayers.
The proposals will go before councillors at a meeting tomorrow evening (Wednesday).
This week Dudley Council agreed to increase its council tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent taking it to £2,145 a year for an average band D property.
The Conservative-led council passed its budget after agreeing to a series of demands made by the Liberal Democrat group.
