Herefordshire Council are likely to increase Council Tax by 4.9% to pay for adult social care.

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet will consider the draft 2018/19 budget on Friday, January 12th which includes proposals for 2018/19 Council Tax rates. The Cabinet will make recommendations to Full Council for approval on January 26th.

The 2018/19 draft budget assumes a 1.9% general increase in Council Tax plus an increase of 3% to the adult social care precept. A total Council Tax increase of 4.9% is proposed in the draft budget.

The figure is the maximum rise available to to the Council without triggering a referendum.

Councillor Nigel Shaw, the cabinet members for finance, housing and corporate services, said less government funding had consequences. He said: “Herefordshire Council continues to face financial pressures due to the increased demand on the county’s adult social care system and children’s services. We have a large proportion of people over retirement age in the county and this puts pressure on our health and social care services.”

“Central government has recognised the effect that inflation has had on the cost of providing council services, as well as the significant pressures that affect adult social care. With the loss of all government funding by 2020, we need to look at other ways to pay for the services the council delivers and make savings where we can. Residents everywhere will have noticed changes to the services we deliver, although we have sought to maintain and enhance the delivery of our statutory responsibilities through improved efficiency and methods of working.  

“Meanwhile it is more important than ever to attract more opportunity to the county. The new university will attract more young people alongside related businesses and services, while the continued improvement of the city unlocks development potential, such as that seen on the newly opened City Link Road.  

“I have no doubt that the Cabinet will want to further consider the additional options that the provisional local government finance settlement makes possible and will make appropriate recommendations to the full Council.”

The Cabinet will also discuss updates to the Medium Term Financial Strategy - which outlines spending, savings and contingency planning until 2020/21.