Mid Suffolk Council unveils plan to freeze council tax
The district council wants to freeze its share of council tax - as a way to help households with the cost of living
Last updated 30th Jan 2023
Mid Suffolk Council’s part of council tax could be frozen while social housing rents increase under budget proposals.
The annual Mid Suffolk portion for council tax will stay the same and council house rents will increase by seven percent if councillors approve plans published today.
Mid Suffolk leader Cllr Suzie Morley said: “We are not immune to rising costs but we know our residents and businesses are feeling the pinch too.
“Thanks to careful and forward-thinking financial management over recent years, we can protect services without putting up our share of the bills – and still deliver on our pledges.
“This means we can continue to tackle climate change, support our district’s economic growth as well as caring for our communities and the wellbeing of our residents.”
Mid Suffolk’s proportion of a Band D property’s council tax bill would remain at £171.59.
Average weekly affordable rent would increase by £9.03 to £137.99 and the equivalent social rent would increase by £6.16 to £94.15.
Cllr John Whitehead, cabinet member for finance, said: “It is testament to the council’s robust financial position and our prudent stewardship of the council’s resources that we can protect the services people rely on without putting extra burden on our residents.”
The budget report puts the rent uplift down to the expected 40 percent increase to the cost of the council’s housing services between this financial year and the next. The additional income would therefore help to cover higher costs for maintenance and repairs.
The net cost to the council for delivering services is also set to increase by 41 percent, from £8.77 million in 2022/23 to £12.41 million in 2023/34.
This year’s expected surplus will be reduced as a result. Just over £3 million is now expected to go into earmarked reserves.
The budget will go to cabinet on 6 February and full council on 23 February. It will take effect from April 1 if approved.