RESIDENTS are set for a council tax increase totalling almost three per cent next year.

The average Band D taxpayer in areas without a parish council, in Warrington, has faced a £86 rise this year after a 4.98 per cent council tax increase.

The Labour-run council has confirmed the maximum upcoming council tax increase allowed is three per cent, with any proposed rise above this amount requiring a local referendum.

Asked whether the council will be increasing it by the maximum amount, a spokesman said: “For planning purposes we have assumed a 1.98 per cent increase for council tax and one per cent for the adult social care precept.

“The final decision however will be taken by full council in February.”

Meanwhile, responding to the 2022-23 provisional local government finance settlement, Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said ‘it is good that Government has listened to our call’ to publish the provisional settlement ahead of the Christmas period.

He said: “This provides certainty on the allocation of the £1.6 billion for councils in the next year as announced in the spending review.

“The increase in grant together with council tax raising powers confirmed today will support councils to meet extra cost and demand-led pressures next year to keep providing services at pre-pandemic levels.

“However, for that to happen every council will have to raise council tax by the maximum next year.

“This leaves them facing the tough choice about whether to increase council tax bills to bring in desperately-needed funding at a time when they are acutely aware of the significant burden that could place on some households.”

The council says it is still ‘working through the detail’ of the provisional settlement published by the Government.

A spokesman added: “The settlement is slightly better than we anticipated, however, we still need to find over £20 million of cuts and savings in order to deliver a balanced budget for 2022-23.

“It is disappointing that while a three-year spending review was announced in the autumn by the Chancellor that we still only have a one-year settlement and have no indication of funding levels for future years, which does not help with efficient budget planning.”