Council tax rise proposals in East Lindsey 'to aid economic recovery'

Residents across East Lindsey are being invited to have their say about a proposed council tax rise.
Coun Richard Fry.Coun Richard Fry.
Coun Richard Fry.

East Lindsey District Council's draft budget for 2021/2022 proposes to increase the precept by 3.49% or £4.95 per year – that's an extra 9.5p per week for a Band D property.

The authority says the rise would aid financial recovery of the district during a time of financial uncertainty.

It says this budget will look at redressing the imbalance created by the COVID-19 pandemic and focus on financial support to underpin economic recovery whilst ensuring the Council remains financially resilient and able to deliver the services it has to by law including support to the most vulnerable residents.

ELDC also says this element of the Council Tax remains one of the lowest in the country and is 8% of the overall bill it collects.

However, there are some positives with the proposed rise. ELDC says, whilst Government funding to support local services is expected to continue to reduce over the coming years, in 21/22 the Council does have the opportunity to invest in a number of priority areas in line with the Corporate Strategy.

As well as maintaining existing service provision, the draft budget proposes:

- Additional income from commercial activities.

- Ongoing savings arising from reduced expenditure on supplies and services, staffing and vehicle costs.

- Continued savings through the Strategic Alliance with Boston Borough Council.

- Increased capital investment in Council assets to help generate more income, reduce maintenance and other running costs and help deliver services more efficiently.

- To support the Council's reserves to help protect against future volatility in Business Rates income.

- A re-distribution of revenue funding to provide additional focus on economic growth, market town investment, deprivation, commercial expansion and reducing the impact of the Council's services on the environment. The Market Towns Investment Fund will help support economic growth by building on the existing programme of interventions along the coast; and the recently agreed Carbon Reduction Strategy will help reduce the impact of the Council’s services on the environment and will look to provide leadership across the district.

Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Richard Fry, said: : “This budget is hugely important in terms of ways in which the economy of the district can recover following the damage that has been caused by the pandemic. The Council needs to be financially resilient for the future to ensure it can carry out its duties and initiatives to help residents and businesses.

“The past year has been extremely difficult but the Council has continued to make some significant savings through new and more modern ways of working and that journey will continue. I’d encourage people to digest our proposals and take part in the consultation.”

The consultation is open until February 8.

To read the full budget proposals and to take part in the consultation visit www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/consultation.

Alternatively, you can request a paper copy by phoning 01507 601111.

* Skegness Town Council has approved a council tax rise of 12p for Band A and 18p for Band D as their part of the overall bill. Ingoldmells residents are expecting to pay 2p a week more, according to a parish councillor.