The local authority has approved 2.99 per cent tax hike
Concerns over a budget being “unfair and discriminatory” dominated debate as a Derbyshire council agreed its spending for the next year, including a maximum tax increase. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting last night the authority approved its budget for the coming financial year, including a precept increase of a maximum 2.99 per cent.
Conservative councillors said it was “unfair and discriminatory” to only allow people to sign up online and not over the phone or in person. A move to bring in the ability to sign up by phone or in person was defeated with the reasoning being that the addition would represent an uncosted part of the incoming budget which would not be defensible.
Cllr Thomas said the Labour administration had received a “dire inheritance” from the Conservatives and would seek to be “financially responsible”, claiming setting a balanced budget was a “novelty” to the opposition. He said the authority had lobbied for an extra three per cent in funding and received one per cent – £117,000 – in return, having had its Government grant cut from £4 million to £250,000 since 2013.
Cllr Tim Scott said a resident had suggested that he charge rent for keeping a brown bin on his drive which he would not be paying to be collected, saying this would be for looking after the authority’s waste. He said: “If one person is to get a discount why not all? If one person is excluded from a discount it is not fair and it is not equality. It is an absolute disgrace to omit just one of those people.
The county council had to use £72 million from its reserves to meet a legally balanced budget, which in addition to last year’s £55 million and ahead of a forecast £21 million next year would total £148 million used from its rainy day fund in just three years. The council had to make £33 million in cuts this year and has forecast the need for £40 million in cuts next year.
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