Cabinet approves council tax rise of 2.9 per cent for Doncaster residents

Senior councillors have approved a council tax rise of 2.9 per cent for residents across Doncaster.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Mayor Ros Jones, addressing members of her cabinet, said the proposed budget would ‘support residents and the local economy while maintaining a ‘strong focus on supporting vulnerable people and improving the environment’.

Council tax is going up by 1.4 per cent while an additional 1.5 per cent is ring-fenced for the provision of adult social care. Over the next three years, the council faces a budget gap of 18.9 million.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Finance bosses at DMBC said the Covid-19 pandemic has placed ‘unprecedented stress’ on council services.

Mayor Ros Jones' cabinet has approved a council tax rise of 2.9 per cent for residents across Doncaster.Mayor Ros Jones' cabinet has approved a council tax rise of 2.9 per cent for residents across Doncaster.
Mayor Ros Jones' cabinet has approved a council tax rise of 2.9 per cent for residents across Doncaster.

On council tax rises, this will increase to £1,446 per year on band D homes – up by £40.75 from the previous year.

For band A homes, year bills will now come in at £964.07 a year – up by £27.17 from the previous year.

The council has chosen not to increase by the maximum payable rate of 4.99 per cent, which would include a three per social care precept. This is the maximum rise any council can implement and if they chose to go higher, it has to pass a community referendum.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mayor Jones said: “Since 2010, council spending has been reduced by £107 million that’s 29 per cent and It represents a £350 cut per Doncaster resident. That’s an awful lot of money.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on council services and these ultimately impact on the budget to increase costs and reduced income streams.

“The additional funding provided by Government has helped ease the financial pressures. However, the future financial position remains extremely uncertain.”

Coun Nigel Ball, cabinet member for public health, leisure and culture, added: “We need to hope the Tory Government do not revert time, and implement austerity measures as this impacts on our people in our communities. Doncaster residents have already greatly suffered around the effects of the pandemic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’ve had austerity, we’ve been hit badly, and our communities and people have been hit badly.

“But what we’ve been able to do is be innovative as well with what we’ve done and that really is down to our senior managers, our directors, but also our staff on the ground.”

The proposals will now be discussed at full council on March 1 before being implemented by April.

READ MORE:

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.