Authority’s plan for inflation-busting council tax rise

‘Spending power is increasing’

Council taxpayers are likely to face another hike in their bills with a 4% increase on the cards under proposals put forward by Kent County Council.

The authority says it is facing a cash crisis and has warned there may have to be cuts in frontline services as it struggles to balance the books.

The council’s leader, Paul Carter, said cuts were an “inevitable consequence” if the government failed to bail it out.

It has told the government that it needs an additional £20 million this year and the next to help cushion the impact – on top of £64 million savings.

Mr Carter said he was appealing to the government to provide more money.

If it did not, then the council would have to cut back on services that it has in previous years protected.

He said: “If we don’t have a modest form of help, we will have to stop delivering or reducing the quality of services.

“We have delivered enormous savings but the elastic is at breaking point. Unless we can get an additional £20 million before the government introduces a new funding method, we are going to reduce services.

“KCC has been highly successful over the past six to seven years in delivering a whole range of cost-reduction measures, enabling public money to support improved frontline services to our residents.

“This is against significant additional pressures on demandled services provided by the council as a result of significant population growth and the need to support a growing proportion of elderly people in the county.”

Labour said the cuts would hit the most vulnerable.

Cllr Karen Constantine said: “These cuts will really hurt the people of Kent. In poorer areas, such as Thanet, and rural areas people are already complaining about the lack of public transA Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “We’ve provided councils across England with more than £200 billion and the certainty to plan ahead through our four-year funding settlement. Funding is allocated taking into account the needs and resources of each local authority.

“Kent County Council’s core spending power is actually increasing by 4.7% over this five-year spending period. As a result they will have available £4.5 billion in funding up to 2020.” port. In some areas there is already a threadbare bus service. Any further cuts will leave people stranded.”

The council is beginning a sixweek consultation on its draft budget, which sets out the need to find a further £64 million savings – part of which would be met by the inflation-breaking tax hike.

A 4% increase would push the average band D bill up to about £1,091 from £1,047 last year. Each 1% increase generates about £6 million for the authority.

Details of the consultation and on how to take part can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/budget

KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter