Councils refuse to rule out further tax increase
Councils in Staffordshire and the Black Country could raise council tax by up to 5.99 per cent after a Government cap was was increased.
Many local authorities across the area had already touted rises in their draft budget for 2018/19 but now they have been given the flexibility to go even further.
Communities secretary Sajid Javid announced that all councils could increase council tax by up to 2.99 per cent – raising the cap by one per cent.
While those in charge of social care, which includes the four Black Country councils and Staffordshire County Council, could levy a further 2.99 per cent to be ring-fenced for care funding.
Most authorities in the area remained coy on their final proposed increases next year.
Dudley Council had initially proposed a 2.99 per cent increase including a one per cent precept for adult social care.
Finance chief Councillor Steve Clark said: “We are currently consulting on our council tax proposals and no decision will be made until next year.”
Sandwell Council, which had warned residents of a possible 4.99 per cent rise from April, responded in a similar vein.
Leader Steve Eling said: “We cannot comment on the Government’s announcements until we have looked at them in fine detail.
"The devil is always in the detail on these matters and we never know what nasties may be lurking under the surface of the headlines.”
A spokesman from Walsall Council, which has also touted a 4.99 per cent hike, stated that the authority’s position remained the same.
Only Wolverhampton council, proposing a 3.99 per cent rise, effectively ruled out a further increase.
Resources chief Councillor Andrew Johnson added: "Our view is that the Government should fund local government properly rather than expect us to pass on unrealistic council tax rises to the public to make up the shortfall."
While councils in Staffordshire were more open to taking advantage of the higher threshold. Cannock Chase District Council would only be entitled to raise taxes by 2.99 per cent as it does not directly oversee social care.
Leader George Adamson said: “We were looking at raising our council tax by around two per cent next year.
“We were not aware we would be allowed to increase it by a further one per cent, but we will consider it and look at that in January.”
Staffordshire County Council is facing a £12m black hole next year and was already proposing to increase council tax by 4.95 per cent. Leader Philip Atkins said the authority would 'seriously consider' the further one per cent rise.
