Council tax plans set out 4.99% rise in Stoke-on-Trent

People living in Stoke-on-Trent could see their council tax bills rise this year.

The City Council's proposing a near 5% hike to fund what it describes as "challenging" demand on its services, in particular that of social care.

The consultation which launched today (Friday) on its budget proposals sets out a record investment into services that support vulnerable children and adults in the city.

Under the consultation, it is proposed that council tax will increase by 4.99 per cent – two per cent of which will support adult social care, and 2.99 per cent will support further services for vulnerable people.

The proposals would see the vast majority of residents in Band A properties pay an additional 94p a week in council tax, equal to £48.84 for the year. Council tax in the city remains the eighth lowest compared to 93 metropolitan and unitary authorities in the country, and city residents pay the second lowest average council tax per household.

“We take our responsibility to manage public money very seriously"

Council leader Abi Brown said: “Demand for social care services in our city has never been higher. This year it is supported by specific government funding for social care and a precept on council tax. This funding will help us to continue to support around 1,000 children who are in the care of the authority, it will help us to deliver home care to vulnerable adults, it will help us to support people with multiple and complex needs and it will help us to further invest in supporting patients’ discharge from hospital.

The proposals will see a total of £6.9m of savings consulted on to support the delivery of services in ways that are more efficient and sustainable as the needs of residents and the city change. A further proposed £4.6m of savings will not form part of the public consultation as they will not impact on frontline service delivery.

"These proposals will see 62p out of every £1 spent on social care services"

The authority says it's also set out clear priorities for investment in and support for the growth of the city and supporting people’s needs as they change through their lifetime.

Councillor Brown said: “There is no doubt that as a city we are at a critical juncture, with the cost of living crisis and winter pressures impacting on residents and communities.

“Unfortunately as an authority we are not immune to these pressures either; high inflation impacts on the money we spend and our ability to deliver services. But we cannot allow financial pressures to derail our exciting regeneration projects and deprive our city of the investment, jobs and opportunities that they will bring."

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