Council tax payers in the Keswick area face a 4.99 per cent increase in their bills when the new Cumberland Council takes charge of the purse strings next month.
The shadow authority has agreed its first budget for when on vesting day – April 1 – Cumberland Council starts providing all council services in the current Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland areas.
Since being elected in May last year, the shadow executive has been working to bring together the budgets of the borough and city councils, as well as split the finances for Cumbria County Council.
Bringing the different district and county councils together means that council tax charges have to be harmonised by law. To achieve this, the budget uses a weighted average of current band D bills.
To ensure that services continue as normal and those most in need get the support they need, councillors agreed to an average 4.99 per cent rise in council tax from April 1.
The increase remains about half the current rate of inflation, and is split 2.99 per cent on core council tax and two per cent for adult social care. It will result in an extra £1.58 a week for an average Band D bill.
The financial plans for 2023/24 ensure that the new Cumberland Council can continue to provide the services to its residents from vesting day – such as waste collections, planning and adult and children’s care services. It also provides the resources required to help meet the aspirations in the Cumberland Council Plan, transform services over the next few years and support those residents who are most in need.
During the budget-setting meeting, Cllr Lisa Brown, the deputy leader, announced a further ambition to look into how Cumberland Council can provide free school meals for all school children. The authority agreed a ‘Right to Food’ motion last summer to ensure tackling food insecurity was a priority.
When making the decision, councillors took into account the concerns raised by those who had responded to the budget consultation which was held in January.
More information on the proposed budget can be found on the cumberland.gov.uk website.
