Uttlesford residents will pay more council tax this year after the local authority agreed to hike its share of the levy by the maximum amount allowed.
This was despite calls from opposition parties for a freeze on payments to help “just about managing households”.
Residents will pay £171.61 a year to Uttlesford District Council (UDC) – an increase of £5 – for a band D property, bringing the expected amount of money raised in 2023-2024 to £6,694,027, according to a report.
The Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) led administration told Tuesday’s (Feb 21) meeting of the council that the authority’s investments meant it was in a better position than other Essex councils, many of which were experiencing massive pressures on their finances.
Portfolio Holder for Finance and Budget Neil Hargreaves (R4U, Newport) said: “This contrasts to presentations to members in November, which headlined 60 councils across the country may run out cash in this coming financial year if they did not make large cuts.
“Uttlesford is not in that position, and the reason is that we’ve made £16million of revenue from commercial investments, which means we’ve not been raiding reserves to pay running costs.”
But opposition councillors warned the authority may have to sell some of its assets to avoid eating into reserves, and criticised the budget for not including money lost as a result of the botched Stansted Airport refusal and ongoing delays to the council’s local plan.
Councillor Barbara Light (Lib Dem and Green Alliance, Saffron Walden Audley) said: “I would suggest that it is not what is in this budget that would give any idea as to the state of this council, it is in fact what has been cunningly left out.”
Councillor Vere Isham (Lib Dem and Green Alliance, Takeley) also expressed concern there was no reference to the fact the council’s accounts have not been externally audited, due to a previous police investigation into the council.
Cllr Hargreaves said these were not budget matters and had been discussed in council scrutiny meetings.
The alliance condemned it as a “pre-election make believe budget” that would need rectifying after the May local elections.
Group leader Melvin Caton (Lib-Dem Stansted South & Birchanger) said: “Senior officers have already warned us that there will have to be an emergency budget in the summer. We will need to rectify this pre-election ‘bogus’ budget. We should not pretend the council’s finances are‘hunky dory’as R4U claim.”
Conservative leader George Smith (The Sampfords) said: “What concerns me most about this budget and messaging is that it’s been said it’s a robust financial position. We’re really not. We’re kicking the can down the road.
“The medium term financial strategy demonstrates that unless we are able to sell our commercial assets and get the return that we need our reserves will be gone by 2025.”
The overall council tax bill is divided up between UDC, Essex County Council, the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and parish councils for the services they provide.
Stansted Parish Council has agreed a zero per cent increase for the average band D property. Villagers will pay no more than last year for parish council services – £127.88, or 2.45p per week.
Essex County Council has already approved a 3.5% increase up from £1,401.12 to £1,450.17 – an increase of £49.05, or 94p a week while Essex Police agreed a 6.84% increase – equivalent to an extra £14.94 for the average home.
Householders will also pay an extra £4.95 a year for fire and rescue services, making a combined police and fire charge of £1.66 a month.
