Council to freeze tax due to 'healthy' finances

The recommendations will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on 17 February and by full council on 3 March

A district council is set to freeze council tax for the next 12 months, citing a "strong financial position".

Members of Ashfield District Council's cabinet will discuss recommendations to freeze its portion of council tax for the next year, before it is taken to full council for a final decision.

A council press release said a report from the Local Government Association highlighted the authority's "strong financial position and healthy level of reserves".

About 9% of the income generated through council tax currently goes to the district council, with three quarters going to Nottinghamshire County Council.

The remaining 16% is split between the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, which receives 12%, and the county's fire and rescue service, which receives 4%.

Dave Shaw, member for finance at the district council, said: "Members will be recommended to not put up council tax for 2025-26.

"Due to our healthy financial position, it is felt that now is not the right time to add additional financial strain to our residents.

"Subject to approval, if this freeze goes ahead, thanks to our reserves, we would still be able to deliver some of the best services provided in the East Midlands."

The recommendations will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on 17 February and by full council on 3 March.

Analysis

By Hugh Casswell, BBC Nottingham political reporter

A year ago, Ashfield District Council increased council tax, describing it as a "last resort".

You might reasonably ask if it's a coincidence, then, that they're now freezing it with local elections a matter of months away.

Those elections are for the county council, rather than the district, but many councillors sit on both authorities, and the same independents who run the Ashfield district are the current opposition at the county.

Their opponents will call it electioneering. The independents insists the elections are not their sole motivation for the freeze.

At the end of the day, a council tax freeze looks very good on campaign leaflets.