Public urged to have say on Lincolnshire council tax plan

A public consultation on the proposed increase is due to end on Tuesday

Residents are being urged to have their say on a proposed tax hike across the county.

A consultation on Lincolnshire County Council's budget plans for the financial year 2024/2025 is due to end on Tuesday.

The Conservative-led authority is proposing a 4.99% increase to council tax, which equates to an extra £1.44 per week for a Band D property.

It would raise an extra £18m, council bosses said.

Leader Martin Hill said the authority had managed to find savings of about £9m by "streamlining operations" but now faced additional cost pressures of £61m due to rising prices and increased demand for services.

Mr Hill said the authority, which takes about three quarters of the money households pay in council tax, expected to spend almost £650m in 2024/25, including £305m on adult care, £114m on children's services and £49m on highways.

An additional £4m is earmarked for longer-term flood prevention schemes.

Mr Hill said the council faced additional cost pressures of £61m due to rising prices and demand on services

Mr Hill said flooding was "a real concern for residents", brought to the fore by the damage caused by recent storms.

However, despite the proposed increase, he said the authority remained in "a stable position", adding there were no plans to cut services.

"Our council tax rate is set to remain one of the lowest in the country for a shire county," he said.

Longer term, he added, councils in Greater Lincolnshire were looking to secure a devolution deal, which would see more local decision-making and funding transferred from the government.

"We believe this is the best way available to us to ensure we get the investment we need."

Participants in the survey have three options to choose from and a summary of their views will be shared with the executive on 6 February, where they will consider the final budget for recommendation to full council on 23 February.