Council tax hike on the cards for Cheshire West residents

Cheshire West and Chester Council has announced plans to increase tax by 4.99 per cent for 2021-22 – including three per cent for adult social care.

The authority says it is facing a £30 million revenue funding gap in 2021-22 – plus a further £53.4 million black hole between April 2022 and March 2025.

CWAC’s proposed tax increase would see residents in Band D properties pay an extra £1.51 a week, and it would be the sixth year running that council tax has been increased.

Cllr Louise Gittins, CWAC’s Labour leader, said: “We know times are extremely challenging for everyone now, and we never take a decision to increase council tax lightly.

Cllr Louise Gittins.

“We are asking people to pay a little bit more so we can all get through the coming years together and nobody gets left behind.

“We do have a duty to provide services which protect and support those members of our community who need it most – our children in care, older people, people fleeing domestic abuse and those economically impacted by the pandemic.”

CWAC says its priorities include the borough’s recovery and renewal after Covid, tackling both the climate and poverty emergencies, and protecting front-line social care services – while regeneration schemes are still planned in the council’s capital programme.

It is set to spend an additional £12 million on social care next year to meet increasing pressures, with the tax hike covering £5.8 million of that.

Cllr Carol Gahan, the cabinet member responsible for putting together CWAC’s budget, says Covid has caused financial strain for the authority.

She said: “The cost of providing PPE, paying social care providers and accommodating homeless people to keep them safe during lockdown – along with significant reductions in planned income from council services, especially our leisure services – have made the financial situation even more challenging this year.

Cllr Carol Gahan, cabinet member for legal and finance at CWAC

“We’ve also been unable to carry out many of the savings planned for this year because of the disruption caused by the pandemic, and the subsequent impact it has had on all our lives.”

Cabinet will consider the budget on February 10, before full council will vote to approve it on February 25.

At that meeting, opposition councillors will have the opportunity to table amendments to the budget – and Conservative members may choose to do this, having unsuccessfully attempted to reduce tax increases at budget meetings in recent years.

Residents facing difficulty paying their council tax will still be able to use the council’s tax reduction scheme, while a discretionary hardship fund is also available.