At a time when the Coronavirus pandemic means even more Ruddington families are struggling to make ends meet, Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has announced it intends to increase its share of our Council Tax by 3.2% in the next financial year.
This is despite the current UK inflation rate standing at just 0.6% and with most bank and building society interest rates for savers even lower than that. The hike proposed at the Cabinet Meeting last night (9th February 2021) would mean householders paying £147.36 for a typical ‘Band D’ property from April – up from £142.74 now. It follows an increase of 3.6% at the same time last year.
Defending the plans, the authority says the rise is necessary to ensure the Council’s services and resources are sufficient to meet both current and future needs. The report noted “the considerable risks and uncertainty that prevails in the current financial environment with the full impact of COVID-19 yet to be determined and the further impact on both businesses and the community”.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance, Cllr Gordon Moore, told colleagues that an ambitious £38m capital programme on key projects is still planned for the coming years, despite the pandemic. He said: “Those in a Band D property in the Borough still pay among the lowest figures of anywhere in the country despite the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. The budget focuses on economic recovery and growth, supporting the most vulnerable in our community and ensuring that health and wellbeing, carbon reduction and supporting the environment remain high priorities.”
He added: “We’re pleased to set out this plan that will see the Council continue to invest significant capital within the Borough with major investments such as Bingham Hub, the crematorium, an upgrade of facilities at leisure centres and support for affordable housing.”
For Ruddington, the amount of Council Tax residents must pay also includes precepts to Ruddington Parish Council, Nottinghamshire Police, the Combined Fire Authority and, most significantly, to Nottinghamshire County Council – which is about ten times more than RBC’s share, and has yet to be announced for 2021-2022.
All the authorities are also set to benefit from the income of thousands of new houses now being built on former Green Belt sites across Rushcliffe – 588 of these in Ruddington.
A Full Rushcliffe Borough Council meeting on March 4th will discuss the proposed budget.
