Council tax rise consultation launched

Labour council leader Shaun Davies said balancing the books was increasingly difficult

Public consultation is to be launched into a council's budget plans that include raising council tax across Telford and Wrekin by 4.99%.

If the budget is implemented it would mean the average home in the borough would pay an extra £1.09 per week.

The rise would bring in about £4m with every pound invested into adult and children’s social care, said Telford and Wrekin Council.

The tax had been frozen for two years but council leader Shaun Davies said "difficult decisions" were needed due to central government funding.

The council has launched a four-week public consultation into the budget

"Balancing the books is proving increasingly difficult for us, and for all councils across the country," Mr Davies said.

The Labour-run authority has blamed government funding cuts for the potential tax rise, and adds in its budget report that being forced to make additional savings has "significant consequences on front line services".

The four-week consultation on the plans for the 2024/25 financial year starts on Friday.

To balance the books, the budget proposes to make £17.8m of savings in the period.

It is suggested £2.78m of the figure could come via service restructures and staff savings across the organisation.

Since 2019 the council has made £156.9m in annual savings which it has said equates to £1,900 per annum for every household in the borough.