Residents in Gloucestershire face at least a 4.75 per cent council tax hike from April, writes Leigh Boobyer.

Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet approved proposals on Wednesday (January 27) to increase its share of the council tax bill, which result in a £5 monthly increase for the average Band D taxpayer.

According to the budget, which will come into effect this Spring, the increase comprises 1.99 per cent for general services and 2.76 per cent to cover some of the growing costs of adult social care.

The proposals will be expected to receive final sign-of on February 17, from 10am when full council meets.

The county council’s budget totals spending of almost £482million and includes commitments in areas such as children’s services, highways, as well as planning for the authority’s continued response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Council tax is split between the county council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, the six district and borough councils in the county and the dozens of smaller town and parish councils.

That means the remaining authorities will also set their new council tax rates over the next month, contributing to the total bill for each household.

The council document said the pandemic resulted in “significant” financial pressures for the council however Government funding has meant the authority can “cover the costs”.

Council leader Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley) said in the meeting: “While I also think it is very true to reflect on that fact that the Government has never left us wanting for money during this pandemic. Many of us have been surprised at the scale of the financial support we have received on numerous occasions.

“Having said that, the money we get is only part of the equation. It is how we spend that money, how we manage our services and how we make our investments that makes the real difference on the ground.

“While we see in other parts of the country councils talking about cuts, what we have in front of us today is a budget that delivers real investment in the front line and real investment into our community and infrastructures.”

During the council meeting, concerns were raised from opposition councillors about a lack of “detail” behind a £3m budget cut for adult social care.

The proposed figure for the department, which is the authority’s biggest spender, is £156m.

Liberal Democrat councillor Nigel Robbins (Beeches) said in the meeting: “Unfortunately anexx 1.1 does not contain any figures, we cannot scrutinise this significant area of savings within the adult social services budget unless we are given some figures.

“You talk about challenging financial conditions within that area, you talk about a range of partnerships and cultural change, but we are looking for figures.

“Could you please provide us with some detailed figures because we are talking about 50 per cent of the cuts and savings in the budget coming from this year’s area.”

Councillor Carole Allaway Martin, cabinet member for adult social care commissioning, said in response: “I must begin by apologising that I had not actually appreciated how little information within the original document on page 146 compared with other directorate. And the additional list breakdown that you have received is comparable with what other directorate have done.

“I think you will appreciate these targets are broken down by themes within the adults single programme and are set out in that table.

“Many of these themes are still developing in terms of having been worked back to the commissioning intention.

“So this is a very live set of figures, a live piece of work that our commissioners and our accountants are doing in relation to the services we deliver.

“When I have information I will send it to you. The work is still ongoing but as soon as we have numbers we will make them available.”

How much extra every household band could pay in 2020/21

Band A: £42.60

Band B: £49.70

Band C: £56.80

Band D: £63.90

Band E: £78.10

Band F: £92.30

Band G: £106.50

Band H: £127.80

Nearly two-thirds of households in Gloucestershire are in Bands A, B and C, according to the budget report.

Each authority draws up a budget which sets out how much they need from every household in their area to maintain the services they provide.

The district or borough council your home falls under is responsible for collecting your Council Tax, but only keeps its share of the bill.

Homes fall into one of eight different tax bands, A-H, depending on their value. Band D is taken as the average, with Band A homes paying the least and Band H homes the most.