On Thursday night Cheshire West and Chester Council set the council tax for all of the Borough's residents. This was the fourth budget set by the current Labour administration - and yet again they raised the tax by the highest amount permitted by law without triggering a referendum. The referendum trigger point this year for CWaC was a rise exceeding 4.99%. So we have a rise in the element of the council tax by CWaC of 4.99%.
In my view this 'maxed-out' rise failed to take proper account of the year upon year over-collection of the council tax (ie more money being raised than expected), the £6m ear-marked last year for income raising investment (which still hasn't been spent) and a whole host of other measures that if taken could have restricted the rise in council tax without threatening any of the council's services. More importantly CWaC's overall budget, the overall money it can spend continues to rise by greater than inflation.
I don't think hard earning council tax payers are being treated fairly.
For example - did you know that the vast majority of the £3m in additional funds the Government has given CWaC to fix the appalling state of our roads hasn't been spent? If it isn't spent it may have to be returned to government.
Now the council tax paid by residents funds 4 separate authorities so when we consider the overall rise in council tax we have to consider the decisions made by CWaC, The Police and Crime Commissioner, the Fire Authority and Frodsham Town Council.
The percentage rises we are all facing in Frodsham are:
- Cheshire West and Chester Council - 4.99% rise
- Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner - 13.6% rise
- Cheshire Fire Authority - 2.99% rise
- Frodsham Town Council – 23.08% rise
If we compare what the total council tax was in 2015 all Frodsham residents have had to face a staggering 21.3% rise over those 4 years.