Lincolnshire County Council to propose 4.95% council tax hike

The move would see the authority increase the general rate by 2.95%, plus an additional 2% on the adult social care precept.

It would mean the rate for an average band D property would rise from £1,231.47 to £1,292.40.

Senior councillors will decide on the increase at an executive meeting on February 5 before going for final approval at full council.

The county council had proposed a 3.95% hike back in December 2018, councillors proposed a further 1% increase amid funding concerns.

Meanwhile, the authority is expected to see further cuts in grants from central government.

Money from the council’s revenue support grant, which is the main source of funding from government, is expected to fall to £20.139 million.

It means the authority will have seen a £50.212 million cut in its grant over the past four years.

As a result, the county council has forecast a shortfall in its budget of £5.336 million.

But the authority has proposed to dip into its reserves in order to balance the books.

Peter Moore, executive director of finance, said the use of reserves would “smooth the effect” of the cuts.

County council leader, Martin Hill, previously said he recognised that the public was at its limit with council tax increases and that sustainable funding is needed.

“If things come round, I’m quite clear if we get a reasonable amount of extra money next year we can plan not to increase council tax so much next year,” he said.