Council tax in Herefordshire looks set to rise by a total of 6% over the next three years.

Herefordshire Council do not set their budget for 2017/2018 until February 2017, but they have been informed of further cuts from central government. The council’s New Home Bonus will reduce by £1.1m to fund £0.9m to support the delivery of adult social care.

This was announced in the provisional local government finance settlement announced for 2017/18 for Herefordshire by central government this week.

Central government sanctioned a rise in council tax precepts to a total of 6% over the next three years to fund adult social care across the country, details of which will be confirmed locally in March 2017.

Herefordshire Council’s current savings plans require a further £17.5m of savings in the 2017/18 to 2020/21 financial years, contributing to a total of £87m of savings since 2010. The position for Herefordshire is broadly in line with budget assumptions in the medium term financial plan.

Councillor Tony Johnson, leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “We were planning for another challenging settlement this year and that is what the government has delivered. We will set our budget for the year at full Council in February 2017.

“The council will have to make further reductions in spending next year because demand on our services will increase as our funding is reduced.

“Nevertheless, we will continue to focus on our priorities of protecting vulnerable children and adults and boosting jobs, wages and homes.”