East Suffolk: District's council tax share set for £5 hike

East Suffolk Council’s cabinet agreed to an increase of just under three percent in its part of council tax following a meeting on Tuesday, January 3.

The rise would make the annual rate for band D properties £4.95 higher.

Rates for other property bands would be set in line with that of band D homes.

While the uplift has initial cabinet approval as part of the draft medium-term financial strategy, it will go through consideration by scrutiny committee, cabinet again – and finally full council in February 2022 before it can be implemented.

Cllr Maurice Cook, cabinet member for resources, said: “Next year’s limit for council tax charged by districts has been increased by two percent to three percent.

“An increase of £4.95 for 2023/24 will equate to an increase of 2.81 percent for a band D property.

“We are not taking the full three percent, for reasons such as an increase in our council tax base.”

The council tax base is the number of properties in a region with occupants who pay council tax.

The draft medium-term financial strategy included estimates for total council tax income for East Suffolk Council of £16.4 million in 2023/24, £16.9 million in 2024/25, £17.4 million in 2025/26 and £17.9 million in 2026/27.

It is also suggested that government proposals for a 100 percent council tax increase on second or empty homes could yield £7.6 million across East Suffolk – £700,000 of which would go to East Suffolk Council.

The rest would be for the county council and the police.

The earliest the council is projecting the new rate for second and empty homes is 2024.

Last month, plans for a four percent rise in Suffolk County Council's tax share came under fire amid fears it could leave holes in vital social care services.

The 3.99 percent rise is one percent less than the maximum allowed by the government, with the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group calling for more support for social care.