Small increase in council tax amid further Government cuts

Councillors have agreed a small increase in the amount residents pay in council tax to Chesterfield Borough Council as the council continues to face cuts in funding from the Government.

Since 2015, the council has lost £1.9 million each year in funding from the Government and faces a further cut of £440,000 in the next financial year.

Although the council has seen increased business rate revenue as a result of the work we have carried out to support business growth, improved income performance at key facilities such as the Pomegranate and Winding Wheel Theatres and increasing income from renting out office space at the Town Hall, it has been necessary to increase the amount that the majority of residents pay in council tax to Chesterfield Borough Council by an amount that equates to six pence per week.

Most households in Chesterfield borough live in band A properties and will see the amount they pay for Chesterfield Borough Council services increase from £109.93 to £113.26 from April; households living in band D properties will see an increase from £164.89 to £169.89.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “Increasing council tax by any amount is not an easy decision to make and we do understand the impact this can have on local people. But given the continued under-funding and austerity measures by Government, we really have no other option if we are going to continue to provide the facilities and services that so many of our residents rely on and of the quality that our residents and businesses have a right to expect.

“Chesterfield Borough Council provides more than 50 different services for residents, including emptying your bins, keeping our streets clean, providing award-winning parks and open spaces, operating sports and cultural venues and making sure that people’s health and wellbeing is protected through our food safety and licensing activities.

“The majority of households will receive all of these services for 2020/21 for just £2.17 per week, which I believe represents good value for money.”

Although Chesterfield Borough Council collects council tax, the council keeps only 10 per cent of the money collected. The remainder goes to:

• 74 per cent going to Derbyshire County Council to fund services including education, highways, libraries, children’s services and adult social care
• 12 per cent goes to Derbyshire Police
• The remaining four per cent goes to Derbyshire Fire and Rescue.

Residents in Brimington will also pay council tax to Brimington Parish Council and residents in Staveley will also pay council tax to Staveley Town Council.

Chesterfield Borough Council has no control over the increases in council tax made by other authorities.