Telford council tax bill to increase by 3.2%

Telford & Wrekin Council said that the increase would continue its budget strategy, which was agreed last year and will see tax go up a further 3.2 per cent in 2019.

The increase will be an equivalent to an extra 58p a week for the average band B home in the borough.

The council said it would also be working with parish and town councils, as well as organisations, to help them deliver services that had previously been run by Telford & Wrekin Council, such as libraries.

Councillor Lee Carter, cabinet member for finance, said: “We are continuing the course we’ve set for the last seven years, staying within budget but protecting front line services as far as possible and using money wisely to invest in communities, despite remorseless reductions in Government grant.

“While many councils have chosen to increase council tax by almost 6%, we have minimised this, although we recognise that for many people in the borough 3.2% is still a significant increase.

"We must continue to build on the success we have had working with community groups and organisations in finding new ways of providing services that we can no longer afford to. The importance of partnerships and partnership working as we move into ever more difficult financial times are greater than ever and continue to make some one-off funding to help support this and reduce demand of council services."

Councillor Carter said that financial strain would not be reduced after 2020.

"While our plans will address the challenge we face in the medium term, by 2021 we can expect those challenges to only increase," he said.

"The Government is cutting grants to local government much more than other parts of the public sector.

“This will continue to hit more deprived areas with a low council tax base such as this borough much harder than it will wealthier parts of the UK.”