Council tax to rise 5%

Council Tax in East Herts is to rise by 5%, with a typical Band D property paying £100 more a year.

Locals councils provide services such as social care, schools, housing, roads and planning and waste collection.

Council tax is made up of four precepts, for the town, district and county councils together with Herts Police.

East Herts District Council have agreed to a below-inflation tax rise of 2.99% that would see the average Band D household paying £3.65 a week (£189.59 per year) for East Herts services.

At Hertfordshire County Council the increase is 4.99%, whilst at Hertford Town Council the rise is 4.5%.

Herts Police have agreed the largest precept rise, with residents paying 6.7% more for services.

Local authorities have three man sources of income - government grants, council tax and business rates. Councils set local residential taxes, whilst the government controls grants and business rates.

Councillor Geoffrey Williamson, Executive Member for Financial Sustainability at East Herts Council, said: "Like all councils, we face tough decisions in the months and years ahead to balance our books due to spending cuts, high inflation and recession.

"We have saved £5.4 million since 2019, with minimal impact on frontline services, but the scale of the challenge to come is significant. To find a further £5m over the next five years will risk cutbacks to frontline services, something we have and will continue to do our utmost to avoid.

"In setting council tax, we strive to strike the right balance between funding the services people rely on and protecting households from increases – a balance I believe we have found in agreeing a 2.99% rise below inflation."

Councillor Richard Roberts, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: "It is with heavy hearts that we find ourselves having to increase council tax, and we haven’t taken this decision lightly. The alternative to this rise in council tax would have resulted in substantial cuts to some of the very services that are protecting those most in need, and those services helping residents manage the rising cost of living.

"I promised last year that we would do everything we can to protect services, and through sound financial management we have succeeded in closing the deficit in our budget caused by rampant inflation and rising bills. This prudence and quick action means that we can fulfil our commitment to the people of Hertfordshire and protect the services that so many tell us are vital."

The additional £7m raised for Herts Police will fund neighbourhood policing and extra police. The extra officers are being used to tackle public crime concerns, including burglary, cybercrime and violence against women and girls.

Herts Police & Crime Commissioner David Lloyd said: "This budget will enable the constabulary to maintain Hertfordshire’s largest ever police service. The uplift programme over the past three years has seen more than 300 extra officers joining the constabulary.

"It will also allow the delivery of our Prevention First programme which implements evidence-based policing to prevent risk, harm and victimisation. It also focuses on preventing and reducing harm for the most vulnerable, as well as tackling violence against women and girls.

"In addition, we will invest in our professional standards and vetting teams to maintain our high standards, continue to root out those who have no place in our police service, and maintain public confidence.

"Standstill pressures this year are higher than they have been in previous years with pressure on pay, non-pay and capital financing budgets. Despite that, I am delivering a below inflation increase in the precept to recognise the pressure being faced by households across the county."