Telford and Wrekin cabinet backs two-year council tax freeze

A planned two-year council tax freeze for Telford and Wrekin residents has been backed by senior councillors.

The authority’s cabinet has agreed its draft budget for 2022/23 based on a zero per cent rise in general council tax, and a five-year financial strategy setting out plans to do the same in 23/24.

There will however be a one per cent rise in the adult social care precept, which will result in 21p per week being added to the average council tax bill.

At a meeting to discuss the financial strategy, Councillor Rae Evans, portfolio holder for finance, highlighted the fact the council had received only a one-year settlement from government on which to base the budget, “so projections beyond next year can only remain indicative”.

Councillor Evans said: “Despite the severe financial constraints that have been applied to local authorities during a prolonged period of austerity, and the increased demand on key services… this council has demonstrated a consistently strong track record of sound financial management.

“Telford and Wrekin Council has the lowest level of council tax across the whole of the Midlands region, with the average council tax in the Midlands being 30 per cent higher than that in our borough.”

Councillor Evans said the council’s leadership was “acutely aware” of the pressures many residents were facing.

She said: “This is a budget for our residents who, in this coming year, will face enormous challenges, with estimated fuel and fuel bills rising taxes and freezes in benefits.

“We are a compassionate council. We are a well-managed council. We are a council that is on the side of our residents.

“And that’s why at this time of unprecedented pressure we are proposing to take the unprecedented step of committing to a zero per cent increase in our general council tax for the next two years.”

Opposition Conservative group leader Nigel Dugmore welcomed the council tax freeze, saying: “I am delighted to see that there is going to be a zero per cent increase in council tax and I’m fully supportive of that, because that’s exactly what I would be doing.”

Cabinet agreed to put the budget – including the tax freeze – and five-year financial strategy out to consultation.

It will then come back to the full council to be signed off ahead of the start of the new financial year.

Councillor Davies said: “This is a budget we should all be proud of. I do hope, for the first time in almost 12 years, that we receive unanimous support in the council chamber for this budget.”

Councillor Davies also made a “direct plea” to Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority and the borough’s town and parish councils not to raise their own precepts.

He said: “We can do our bit but we need the other parties on the bill to do their bit.”