A maximum tax hike and a £6.6 million gap were featured in a first look at a council’s budget proposals.
Yesterday evening, members of East Suffolk’s overview and scrutiny committee had their first look at the council’s budget proposals for the upcoming 2025/26 financial year.
The proposals included a maximum 2.99 per cent increase in Council Tax, meaning a Band D property’s tax bill would be £192.15, or £5.58 higher than current levels.
East Suffolk Council is proposing a maximum 2.99 per cent Council Tax increase. Picture: iStock.
If approved, Council Tax collection would net the council £18.5 million in the coming financial year.
Despite the proposed increase, however, the budget would still require £6.6 million to be taken from reserves to address the funding gap, with further budget gaps predicted to reach £6.7 million in 2026/27, £8.5 million in 2027/28, and £11.5 million in 2028/29.
In turn, the council’s reserves are projected to nearly halve in the same period, going from £36.8 million in April this year to £20.1 million in 2029.
Cllr Vince Langdon-Morris, East Suffolk Council’s lead for finance said the authority had been left at the bottom of the heap in terms of Government funding. Picture: East Suffolk Council.
Cllr Vince Langdon-Morris, the authority’s lead for finance, stressed the council had been left ‘right at the bottom of the heap’ in terms of additional Government funding.
Asked what further budget proposals would mean for businesses in the district, he said the council was being ‘smart and realistic’ on how to assist businesses, but warned this didn’t always mean financially, instead pointing out it was important to encourage local production and consumption.
Further criticism was levied at the Government by Cllr Geoff Lynch, who called Labour’s approach to the countryside a ‘disgrace’.
Committee members agreed to support the recommendations made within the budget proposals ahead of it being discussed by cabinet members.
The final budget will then be discussed for final approval during a full council meeting in February.