As Ruddington residents brace ourselves for a sudden hike in our fuel costs this April, due to the higher new energy price cap set by Ofgem, at least there’s some better news from Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) today.
Whilst NCC’s share of our Council Tax is set to go up again in the next financial year, it will only be by around 1% – whereas this time last year its increase was an inflation-busting 3%! The Budget proposals for 2022/23, approved at today’s Finance Committee meeting, will also see the ‘Adult Social Care’ precept implemented at 3%. The authority says this means the majority of Nottinghamshire households will have our bills increased by just 86p per week – although the average increase is actually just over a £1.
It says the additional Council Tax revenue will be earmarked to fund improved infrastructure investment, including £12m over four years to deliver patching repairs on Nottinghamshire’s road network. The Budget will be presented to Full Council on Thursday 24th February where it is expected to be given final approval.
NCC’s Chairman of Finance, Councillor Richard Jackson says: “We think our budget proposal for the coming year is both modest and fair. We understand the cost-of-living is biting households, and that’s why we are keeping the increase to 1% rather than opting for 2%, which was on the table.”
He adds: “We’ve been able to keep the rise to a minimum because we have managed our books well and have a stable financial platform to build on. I’m delighted we have been able to balance the budget this year, and we hope to do the same for the next three years, despite the challenges and pressures we face.”
Unfortunately, Rushcliffe Borough Council is proposing a rather larger increase of 2.4% on its portion of residents’ bills. This equates to £3.57 more for a Band D property or £2.38 for those in Band A. A Full Council meeting at Rushcliffe Arena on March 3rd will now discuss the proposed budget further.
Thankfully, NCC’s smaller rise is more significant because its portion of the Council Tax dwarfs the amounts we pay to RBC, Nottinghamshire Police, The Combined Fire Authority or Ruddington Parish Council (RPC) for their services. Moreover, RPC has already agreed no increase in its Parish Precept for 2022/23 at the Council meeting held on January 25th.
However, things could be set to change significantly in the future now that the Government has released its ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper – which outlines plans for local ‘devolution’. Nottinghamshire and Nottingham have been named as one of the first nine areas in England invited to seek a devolution ‘deal’.
If such a deal was to be agreed, powers could be handed equally to Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to work in partnership with existing District and Borough Councils, such as Rushcliffe. This would take responsibility away from the national government over major decisions and services that affect people living and working here.
