No council tax rise for Cumbria's next financial year
An “historic” moment took place at the county council’s cabinet meeting yesterday as a zero per cent council tax rise was announced in the authority’s last-ever budget.
Deputy leader and finance boss Peter Thornton presented his proposed budget for the 2022/23 financial year. It is the 50th and final budget of Cumbria County Council before it is replaced, along with the six district councils, by two unitary authorities.
Cllr Thornton said: “We have worked hard to keep this year’s increase as low as possible as we know the hard financial challenges many families are facing.”
Leader of the council Stewart Young said: “I think given the pressures that households are under it’s absolutely right that we freeze the general council tax this year and we’re not doing that in an irresponsible fashion, we’re not raiding reserves in order to do that and thereby creating difficulties for the new councils, were doing it as part of the overall financial management as Peter’s referred to.”
The leadership heard that the council tax bill will include a 2 per cent increase on the Adult Social Care precept.
The budget report came as the cabinet member for Health and Care Services Patricia Bell spoke of the “chronic” situation in Adult Social Care.
Cllr Thornton said: “As such we are only recommending a 2% increase for Adult Social Care which will allow us to support a social care system which, nationally, is in crisis. Allowing us here in Cumbria to continue to protect the most vulnerable and those in need.”
Cllr Young said that increasing the Adult Social Care precept is the right thing to do in the current climate.
“The pressures in that area that we’ve heard about from Councillor Bell and what we’ve experienced during Covid with the difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff in that sector has meant we need to increase the amount we pay for social care, residential and domiciliary in the private sector.
“What I would say to the providers, whilst we’re unable legally to set their wage rates for them and to require them to pay their staff reasonable wage rates and terms and conditions, I would urge them to use this money to do that.”
Cross-party admiration was expressed for the county council’s finance team who have run a tight ship, enabling the political leadership to freeze their share of council tax.
Cllr Thornton said: “At this moment I turn to my left and I thank our finance officers and especially Section 151 officer Pam Duke. Even through having Covid and staying at home, Pam carried on working all through that time and that’s the sort of dedication of our finance team and we’re truly fortunate to have this team looking after our finances.”