A local authority says that raising council tax by 1.99 per cent would put it on target to set a balanced budget for the next financial year and push ahead with regeneration and investment plans.
Under proposals being considered by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council for 2024/25, 95 per cent of residents would face an annual increase ranging from £2.84 to £4.27 for the authority’s share of council tax *.
The suggested increase continues to pay for town centre regeneration in Newcastle and Kidsgrove, help improve Newcastle’s historic market and assist the borough’s move towards achieving net zero carbon emissions.
The rise would form part of an overall budget, which is still to be finalised, but will be approximately £16.9 million.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “We are determined to deliver good quality local services as efficiently as possible, while investing in the future.
“In common with many borough councils we face rising fuel and energy costs, a larger than expected pay award for staff, and increasing demand for temporary accommodation for the homeless and vulnerable.
“Despite these challenges, I am proud to say that thanks to careful management and cost reduction programmes the council remains financially stable, which means 19 out of every 20 residents will only pay between 5p and 8p a week extra for the services we provide.”
The authority has said it is committing to spending £41.2 million between 2024/25 and 2026/27 as the Ryecroft and York Place areas of the town centre face wholesale regeneration, with housing, multi-storey car park, shops, offices and open space.
The intention is to generate greater footfall and help connect the north side of the town centre with the historic market.
Meanwhile, the council is also proposing building up its reserves to £2.157 million in case of emergencies.
Stephen Sweeney, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, said: “As well as managing our parks, protecting green spaces, investing in the town centre and collecting the bins on time, in recent years the council has faced a huge increase in workload caused by the problems at Walleys Quarry.
“Although regulation of the landfill remains the responsibility of the Environment Agency, we have been obliged to spend a great deal of time and money challenging problems there and, if needs be, we must maintain the resources to stand up for our residents again in future.”
* This forms one element of the full level of Council Tax paid by people in the Borough. Separate charges are levied by Staffordshire County Council and through the Office of the county’s Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner.
