Borough Council Tax is likely to go up by 5pc (From Warrington Guardian)

Borough Council Tax is likely to go up by 5pc

A TAX hike of 5% in the borough's Council Tax levy is being recommended to councillors in Crewe and Nantwich as a basis for the new year's budget.

The authority's financial bosses suggested the increase in their initial recommendations about the budget this week.

The council's chief executive Alan Wenham said: "We will be giving our suggestions to the board on Thursday (today) and there will be public consultation before the budget is finalised in late February.

"There are many pressures on us this year - the large increase in the cost of insurance has been one factor.

"We made no increase in Council Tax last year and this adds to our difficulties.

"There are some important growth items to be catered for and we are suggesting to councillors that these are all met by making savings elsewhere.

"As a result we are suggesting that the borough council's tax is increased by around 5%.

"Some 54% of all the households in the Borough are in tax band 'B' or below, so, for them, this will mean a rise of 10 pence or less per week.

"It is worth noting that the borough has the second lowest Council Tax of the six Cheshire districts.

"Only 12% of what people actually pay comes to the borough. The other 88% goes off to help fund the county council and to provide the fire and police services."

The proposed hike will amount to an increase of around £6.70 annually for people in Band D properties.

Councillors will now consider the details of the officers recommendations before asking for public reaction to them and to any other proposals that might be made by the political parties.

The authority scored 18 out of 20 for its financial management last year following an inspection by Audit Commission inspectors.

Councillors will discuss the recommendations in a cabinet meeting at Crewe's Municipal Buildings at 6pm today.