Doncaster councillors pass council tax and social housing rent increases

Council tax will increase by 1.99 per cent with a further 2.5 per cent on top ring fenced to help fund adult social care costs. Bills will rise by a total of 4.49 per cent.

Overall this will increase Band A council tax by 83 pence per week and B and D by £1.25 per week.

Mayor Jones said some ‘difficult decisions’ have been made to try and balance the budget to meet the £13.1 million deficit for the 2022/23 financial year.

She added despite the ‘ongoing uncertainty’ around government funding and the continued response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the proposals set a balanced budget. The council now has 28 per cent less to spend on services in real terms than it did in 2010/11, Mayor Jones also said.

As part of Mayor Ros Jones’ budget, rent for those living in social housing will increase by 4.1 per cent in April – bringing the average rent to around £76 a week.

This follows a government-imposed one per cent increase over the last four years.

The increase in rent equates to around £12 a month with a resident on the average rent of £292.24 a month. The rent hike will come into effect on April 4, 2022.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, who has housing in his cabinet portfolio, said that the rise was below inflation and the increase still meant rents were the lowest in South Yorkshire.

In total, 40 councillors voted for the proposals while eight abstained.