North Lincolnshire Council tax to rise by 3.74%

The Conservative-led authority approved its budget for 2024/25 at a rearranged meeting on Monday

North Lincolnshire Council has opted against putting council tax bills up by the maximum amount.

Council tax will rise by 3.74% for residents, below the 4.99% maximum allowed by the government.

It comes as the Conservative-led authority approved its budget for 2024/25 at a meeting on Monday.

Plans for a new library in Scunthorpe town centre were also announced, along with free swimming sessions and free books for pre-school age children.

The figure, the lowest in the Humber region, is made up of 1.99% core council tax and a 1.75% increase for adult social care.

The council had been due to approve its budget at a meeting last week, but proceedings were halted after a man became ill and was taken to hospital.

'Cunning plan'

At the time, council leader Rob Waltham said: "Through the last year we have made major strides in our firm commitment to improving outcomes for everyone in North Lincolnshire.

"We have backed a small increase this year and have detailed plans for how we will use that money to ensure residents see improvements to their lives.

"We're backing schools with extra cash, we're supporting more free swimming sessions, recommitting to giving every child a free book every month until their fifth birthday and increasing the community grant funding."

Mr Waltham said the authority was also committed to more tree planting and further investment in family hubs, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The opposition Labour group had also expressed concerns about the council's finances.

Group leader Len Foster said: "The motion put before us takes £4m out of our diminishing reserves."

He also questioned the decision not to raise the adult social care precept by the maximum 2% permitted without a referendum.

Others said plans to make savings by not recruiting for longer-term vacancies would impact on staff and services.

Councillor Lorraine Yeadon said: "Now, North Lincolnshire Council has come up with a cunning plan... that if a vacancy is not filled within three months it will simply be removed.

"But, of course, the work that is needed to be done will not disappear," she added.