Nottinghamshire County councillors have voted for an Adult Social Care Precept increase of 1%, rather than the maximum 3% permitted by Government for 2021/22.
The budget was confirmed at the Council’s annual budget setting meeting on Thursday 25 February.
In his speech to the Council, the Finance & Major Contracts Management Committee Chairman, Councillor Richard Jackson said:
“At times of crisis, local authorities must be there for our residents, and I am immensely proud of the way Nottinghamshire County Council has responded.
“Forecasts of extra expenditure and lost income due to the pandemic has substantially changed our budget position with additional costs to the council reaching £86 million for this year alone.
“However, our success in lobbying the Government, and our prudent budget management, have transformed the short-term financial outlook for the council. This means we can limit the total council tax increase for Nottinghamshire residents to 2.99% for the coming year, comprising a 1.99% rise in council tax and only a 1% increase in the Adult Social Care Precept.
“This is little more than half of the 4.99 per cent that could be levied, and it places this council in the lowest 25% of council tax increases being proposed nationally. It reflects our determination to minimise the pressure on local taxpayers at this difficult time.
“The increase will still raise £14.4m in additional money in 2021/22 to support more than 400 services across the county.
“The impact of COVID-19 required us to significantly revise our original spending plans for the year and change our immediate priorities. And we have done just that.”
Speaking prior to the meeting Councillor Jackson said:
“The County Council has spent the past ten years modernising and streamlining its services, saving over £300 million. Thanks to this work we went into the current COVID situation in a strong financial position, unlike some councils who already had severe financial difficulties and are now relying on big tax increases or even struggling to survive.
“We’ve also been very successful in our efforts lobbying the Government for additional resources to cope with the immediate impact and costs of the pandemic this year and going forward into next.
“Despite having to face the unprecedented challenge of Coronavirus, the gap in our medium-term budget is now around £15 million smaller than the one inherited by this administration in 2017.
“We already have plans in place to close that budget gap further. And we remain committed, when the opportunity arises, to creating a unitary council in Nottinghamshire which would release at least £27 million more per year for services.”
