Six pence a week rise in Stafford Borough Council tax
Stafford residents are set to pay an extra six pence a week in tax from April.
The increase was agreed as part of the budget approved by Stafford Borough Council last month.
They are now required to set the overall council tax next week – that will include increases on behalf of the county council, the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police and Crime and Fire and Rescue, as well as precepts set by parish councils.
The report states that an average ‘Band D’ property will pay an annual charge of £159.27 to the borough council. It is a rise of 1.9 per cent from the previous year and will mean the Band D household paying £3.06 a week.
Councillor Mike Smith, cabinet member for resources, said it was the 17th successive year they had set the borough council tax below the rate of inflation - but continued to provide a range of valuable services.
“We have been praised for the way we have managed our tax-payers’ money. That includes continuing to deliver services, such as the household recycling and waste collection, keeping the streets clean, maintaining 1000 acres of parks and open spaces and nationally acclaimed work to prevent homelessness.
“But we have also invested in our borough providing a new £7.5 million leisure centre in Stone, carrying out a restoration of Victoria Park, which will be completed this summer, as well as delivering hundreds of thousands of pounds refurbishment to other parks.
“The borough charge represents only nine per cent of the total council tax bill.”
Local authority regulations will mean every councillor will be asked individually to say whether they are for or against the proposed council tax for 2020/21 at the meeting on February 25.
