Cumbria County Council’s cabinet has agreed to recommend an almost four per cent rise of its share in the council tax – equating to £4.79 a month on a Band D property.
The 3.99 per cent rise is a combination of a 1.99 per cent increase in council tax, with an additional two per cent precept for adult social care.
The recommendations will now go to a meeting of Cumbria County Council’s full Council on February 18.
The full council tax is made of up precepts from the county council, district and parish authorities and the police and crime commissioner.
It also agreed to recommend the medium-term financial plan for 2021 to 2026.
A statement from the authority said: “The council has continued to deliver its services during a very challenging year.
“Over the last year the impact of COVID-19 has been significant on everyone and it has placed additional pressure on the council’s budget and on its finite resources.
“Despite this additional pressure, the council has remained focussed on protecting the most vulnerable and on supporting Cumbria’s communities.
Peter Thornton, deputy leader of Cumbria County Council, and portfolio holder with responsibility for finance said: “Cumbria County Council has a strong track record in protecting frontline services while delivering savings in response to reduced government funding.
“Cabinet’s recommendation to full council, to increase the county council’s share of council tax by a total of 3.99 per cent for 2021/22, has been a very difficult one for us.
“We had previously planned a 1.99 per cent rise in council tax but the Chancellor’s spending review made it clear that our calculated spending power assumed an additional three per cent adult social care precept with the option to defer all or part of this to 2022/23.
“The budget proposal includes an increase in the adult social care precept by two per cent in 2021/22 and one per cent in 2022/23.
“We, and our fellow councils of all political persuasions, agree that government cannot continue to see council tax rises as being the way to fund increasing social care needs.
“There are still significant pressures on the county council’s core budget.
“This increase will help raise £5 million to invest into essential council services for the most vulnerable and the people who need our support right now in addition to a further £5 million ring fenced to deliver social care.
“I want the public to know that the county council has worked very hard to keep this proposed increase as low as is possible, and it equates to £4.79 a month on a Band D property.
“The money generated will help us provide essential services to those who need them the most and it also ensures that we will deliver the legally balanced budget this year.”
