South Cambridgeshire District Council approves tax increase

People in South Cambridgeshire will pay on average £5 more a year in council tax to the district council from April.

The increase was approved by a majority of councillors at a South Cambridgeshire District Council’s full council meeting on Tuesday (February 23).

A Band D household will now pay £160.31 to the district council as part of its portion of the council tax bill.

Cllr John Williams, the lead cabinet member for finance at the district council, recognised the increased costs being faced by the public, but said the increase was needed to continue providing services.

He said: “Raising our small share of the total council tax bill by £5 a year for Band D properties to £160.31 is the equivalent of a 10p a week increase.

“This means that we can continue delivering key frontline services that residents rely on, as well as enabling us to keep working on our ambitious zero carbon action plan and strategy.

“Band D represents the average property in South Cambridgeshire with 65,431 such equivalent properties estimated in the 2022/23 financial year.

“We understand that for other reasons beyond the control of this council that households are facing a financial storm this year, so I am pleased we have a number of measures to help residents with their council tax bill if they need support, including the local council tax support scheme and more officers to help them.

“And not to forget that even with our £5 a year increase our council tax charge remains in the lowest 25 percent in the country.”

Cllr Williams explained that the increase helped the authority to present a balanced budget, which he said not many district councils had been able to do.

He added that for an additional 10p a week the budget was “a very good deal” for people in South Cambridgeshire.

However, the Conservative opposition group argued that council tax should be frozen instead, and proposed an amendment.

Opposition group leader Cllr Heather Williams said all councillors were aware of the increasing costs being faced by people, and argued that there should be a “pause” rather than an increase.

She said: “If we look at the incremental increases that have happened for residents over the last four years it will actually be £50 more a year than what they were paying four years ago, and that can be a weekly shop for a family of four.

“We have previously been very pragmatic about tax rises and we have supported them, but in the current climate I do think it is right to just give a pause. Perhaps for some it is a good will gesture, but actually it will show a bit of unity with our residents that we respect the difficulties they are facing people that are already just about managing.”

Cllr Williams also questioned how the money was being spent, asking whether £200,000 on replacing carpets in the council offices and £70,000 on redecorating was “really necessary”.

The increase was also opposed by independent member, Cllr Deborah Roberts, who argued a rise would ‘add to people’s problems’ and said the district council needed to cut back and be “realistic”.

Responding to the comments, Cllr Williams said that a council tax freeze would lead to a £1.5million hole in the revenue budget in five years time.

The council tax increase was approved as part of the council’s budget for the next financial year, with 18 councillors voting in favour and 10 against.