Eden portion of council tax frozen in last budget before Government shake-up

Eden District Council has agreed its budget for the 2022-23 municipal year with no cuts to services and a freeze on council tax.

It means the council’s portion of the council tax will remain at £200.75 for a Band D property.

The district authority also collects council tax from households to fund services provided by Cumbria County Council, Cumbria police and parish and town councils, if they raise a precept.

Cumbria County Council has also frozen its main element of the council tax but has added a rise of two per cent for adult social care, which amounts to an increase of £29.96 on a Band D property.

Cumbria police has included a 3.7 per cent increase to its portion of the council tax, which adds £9.99 to a Band D property.

Altogether, this means that the average council tax for a Band D property will rise by £39.95.

Karen Greenwood, Eden Council’s resources portfolio holder, said: “As a result of the Council’s strong financial position, we were able to recommend a freeze on Eden’s portion of the council tax for next year. I hope that this will afford Eden’s residents some respite as we face up to the cost of living crisis that is affecting much of the country.

“As always, it is our intention that Eden District Council should remain on a financially sound and sustainable footing, ready to face whatever the future holds ahead of vesting day for the new Westmorland and Furness unitary authority, which will replace Eden, South Lakes and Barrow Councils in spring of 2023.

“Up until that point, we intend to provide a well-managed and effective organisation, fit for purpose and delivering excellent services to meet customer needs.”

The council also agreed to the establishment of a Joint Committee for the new unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness, which is set to replace Eden District Council in 2023.

Eden District Council also confirmed nominations for three of its councillors to sit on the Joint Committee. They are the council leader, Cllr Virginia Taylor, the council’s deputy leader, Mary Robinson and the leader of the opposition Conservative group, Debra Wicks.

Other items approved by the council during the meeting included the Annual Review of the Treasury Management and Capital Strategy, the Pay and Pensions Discretion Policy Statement for 2022/23, the Final Budgets for 2022/23 and the medium-term financial plan, which were approved unanimously.

The budget also allocated money to support local communities, with £50,000 of additional funding allocated for open spaces and play areas, £20,000 to support community events to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, £100,000 for Zero Carbon Initiatives and £235,000 towards Cultural Development Initiatives, with the last two subject to further cabinet approval.