Tax to rise in Dudley as council plans to invest in range of services
Plans to invest millions of pounds into services across Dudley – including “significant support” for older people – are being put to the public.
Dudley Council has put forward a range of investment services from April next year, as part of its annual budget setting – which would see council tax rise by 4.99 per cent.
It includes investments in the care system and nursing, as well as maintaining investment in the voluntary sector. There is also money to meet the growth in demand for care for people with complex dementia and learning disabilities and rising costs of care.
There are also plans to invest in the council’s antisocial behaviour team, as well as creating more community support officers to pound the streets of the borough.
Leisure is also in-line for a boost with proposals for a refurbishment programme at Halesowen and Stourbridge’s Crystal leisure centres next year, to add to the new Dudley Leisure Centre which is already taking shape.
To help fund the extra money, Dudley Council is planning to raise the basic rate of council tax by 1.99 per cent, along with a three per cent rise which will go specifically to vital services for the elderly. It makes a total 4.99 per cent increase.
But borough residents will continue to pay some of the lowest rates in the country – a rise of just over £1 a week for the average property.
The annual budget consultation has now been launched to give people the opportunity to comment on the proposals before a final decision is taken in spring next year.
