COUNCIL TAX LEADER WARNS : WHITEHALL FUNDING IS 'NOT A NEVER-ENDING MONEY-TREE'

 

Council set to rise for North East Lincolnshire residents

PLANS to help businesses, improve the environment, crack down on anti-social behaviour and continue to support local communities were approved by councillors in North East Lincolnshire last night. 

Announced at a virtual meeting of the full council were proposals to:

*Invest in the 53 play parks across the borough

* Increase direct funding on the green agenda

* Increase ward funding to allow extra support for local communities

* Increase the Council Tax hardship fund to provide additional support for households in  'vulnerable' parts of the area.

Council Leader Philip Jackson said the budget proposals would protect core services at a time of significant uncertainty due to Covid, but also set out how the council is investing for the future.

"The pandemic has had an enormous impact on the area," he declared.

"It is true that we have had an extensive and welcome range of one-off financial support measures from central Government, which has significantly assisted in managing the pandemic at local level.

"However, we must also be aware that that support is not a never-ending money tree.

"As such, we need to do all we can with the resources we have to support the whole area and the sectors which help our local residents"”

Elected members approved the 2021-22 budget, including a 1.98 per cent increase in Council Tax with a further  3 per cent precept for adult social care. 

The increase amounts to £1.52 per week for a Band D property. 

The overall Council Tax bill will also depend on precepts set by the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner.

A report considered by members said increasingly the authority was taking "a more commercial approach", and investments were anticipated to make "a significant contribution to the council’s strategic objective of enabling the growth of a strong and sustainable local economy".

Cllr Jackson said the authority had consulted widely on the draft budget proposals, including public consultation and through the scrutiny process.