Maximum 4.99% council tax hike to be debated

The budget will be discussed at a meeting on 8 February

Residents across Warwickshire may pay an extra 4.99% in council tax from April as the local authority grapples to make £16.2m in savings.

The proposed hike - the maximum allowed - would see households in the lowest bracket pay an extra £55 per year, with those in the highest value homes paying £165.

Papers released ahead of a budget meeting said 2% was applied specifically for adult social care.

The plan will be debated at a county council meeting on 8 February.

"The increase in demand and cost pressures we have faced since February 2023 means we have no choice but to take the full levy," read the council's report.

"We know that, both locally and nationally, adult social care is a top priority for citizens. We also recognise that taking the maximum 2% levy is an additional financial burden given the financial challenges for households across Warwickshire as a result of the rising cost of living.

"We would not be making this choice if there was an alternative that would still ensure we were able to deliver an adult social care service that meets our statutory responsibilities."

'Increased cost and demand'

The council said the recommended budget provided for £28.3m demand and cost pressures in adult social care, triple the level assumed in February 2023.

For children's social care services, the authority is set to plough in £8.3m, including £4.9m towards "the increased cost and demand for children's placements".

There is £8.9m more being allocated to home-to-school transport, although there is more than £1m of anticipated savings specifically on transporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through cost reductions from wider changes to the council's overall SEND strategy.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.