£10 a year to pay for elected mayor blocked
WEST Midlands Mayor Andy Street’s plan to add a £10-a-year precept to council tax bills is set to be scrapped for at least a year.
Midland council leaders and the mayor will consider a proposal on Friday to “defer” the precept, so it is not included in this year’s council tax bills.
It follows objections from Labour council leaders, who said West Midlands council tax bills are already set to rise significantly.
But they insist they are still determined to work constructively with Mr Street, the region’s Conservative mayor who was elected last year.
The Birmingham Post revealed in January that Mr Street wanted to impose a £12 precept on council tax bills going out later this year. This was later reduced to £10.80 for a band D reveals that Mr Street and the some of the money the precept home, raising around £6 milcouncil leaders have agreed “a would have raised for public lion. proposed deferral of the transport schemes will be pro
The charge would have been 2018/19 precept to 2019/20 vided by local councils, which added to council tax bills across subject to further work in will give the mayor’s office an the region served by the mayor, 2018/19 and final approval at extra £572,000 between them. which includes Birmingthe February 2019 West The mayor will also cut his ham, Coventry, WolverMidlands Combined office costs by £65,000. hampton, Sandwell, DudAuthority Board”. Birmingham City Council ley, Solihull and Walsall. It means the precept said it continues to work closely
But the proposal was planned for the 2018and have a good relationship blocked by the Board of 19 financial year, with the mayor, and along with the West Midlands Comwhich begins in April, other local authorities it was bined Authority, which is will now be delayed concerned about the impact on chaired by Mr Street and until 12 months later. residents of increases in council includes the leaders tax.ofThepaperadds:“This the seven local approach is Meanwhile, West Midlands councils. supported by Police and Crime Commission
A paper to the mayor er David Jamieson has be considand the all launched a consultation about ered by the constituent increasing the police precept B o a r d authorion council tax bills by £12. ties.” There will also be a small
It increase, possibly around £1 a says year, from the fire authority. also that