Shropshire Star

Move to get public's view on Shropshire Council tax rise referendum

Councillors in Shropshire will be asked to quiz the public on whether a referendum to raise council tax should be held.

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The full meeting of Shropshire Council will be asked to consider a motion from Ludlow North Councillor Andy Boddington calling on the authority to explore whether the public would like a referendum on the matter.

Shropshire Council has planned to increase council tax by a total of 3.99 per cent, and is planning do so each year for the next five years.

The rise is made up of two parts – a two per cent rise permitted by Government as a precept solely for adult social care funding, and 1.99 per cent proposed by Shropshire Council itself – the highest figure the authority is allowed without carrying out a referendum.

The final council tax bill for Shropshire residents will also incorporate a precept from their parish or town council as well as the local police authority on top of the Shropshire Council figure.

The motion relates to whether the council should be allowed to increase the 1.99 per cent or not.

A motion from Councillor Boddington states: "Town and parish councils have called for a referendum on raising council tax above 1.99 per cent.

"A rise in the unitary tax rate would reduce the need for large increases in local precepts.

"It would also lead to a fairer distribution of costs.

"Under current plans, the residents of market towns such as Ludlow face paying extra for services that are used by people from a wide hinterland.

"This motion requires officers of Shropshire Council to explore the willingness of people in Shropshire for a referendum on a council tax rise above 1.99 per cent."

Councillor Boddington said the public should be asked through the council consultation, 'The Big Conversation'.

He said the authority should also hold discussions with town and parish councils, with all the findings reported to the council in September.

All of the authority's councillors will be asked to vote on whether to back the motion at the meeting which takes place on July 21 at Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

Several of the county's parish and town councils have requested that the authority consider holding the referendum.

However Shropshire Council leader Malcolm Pate has said that the smaller councils could increase their own precept without the need for a referendum.

He said: "If the council were able to call a referendum on increasing council tax it would make no difference to the man in the street if the town or parish councils were to increase their own precept."

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