Cumberland Council budget approved
Council tax will rise by the maximum amount allowed
Councillors have approved Cumberland Council’s budget for 2024/25 which included a rise in council tax of almost five per cent.
It was proposed that the 4.99 per cent increase included a 2.99 per cent rise in the core council tax as well as a two per cent adult social care precept rise.
When she introduced the budget report, Councillor Barbara Cannon , the portfolio holder for financial planning and assets, said that over the past 14 years there had been a “devastating decline in Government funding” for local councils including Cumberland.
Speaking on the budget she said:
“I’m pleased that councillors have agreed our budget for the next financial year. The budget not only provides the funding needed to continue with our frontline services that so many people rely on, but it also means that we can deliver on the priorities of the people of Cumberland.
“As has been the situation for councils up and down the country, setting this budget has brought its challenges. Local government funding has been severely stretched in recent years at a time when demand for services has been rising fast.
“The responsibilities of local government have grown too, with many of our residents not realising the full breadth of services we provide from social care to leisure centres, planning, highways and public health.
“This is why our transformation plan is so important, not only to make our services more effective, but also to put us on a more stable financial footing in the future.
“We have a plan and we need to stick to it to achieve the improvements to services we want to see for our residents, and realise the opportunities of local government reorganisation.
“Putting up council tax is never an easy decision especially at a time when people’s own budgets are stretched. With costs rising, increasing council tax helps protect services that are so important for many of our residents – a situation which residents understand given their responses to our consultation.
“For those on the lowest incomes, we have one of the most generous council tax reduction schemes in the country, and I’d encourage anyone who is struggling to pay their bill to contact our customer service team to discuss whether they are eligible for this support.
“The additional income from second homes will help us address the housing issues many of our communities face as well as help bring these homes back into full-time use.”
The rise in Council Tax means a Band D property’s bill will rise by £86.35 a year or £1.66 a week.