North Lincolnshire households will have the highest council tax increase in a number of years.
The council’s 2025/26 budget was agreed unanimously on Thursday, February 20. There will be an increase of council tax by 4.89 per cent, made up of 2.89 per cent on core council tax and two per cent on the adult social care precept. 4.99 per cent is the maximum that can be sought before triggering a local referendum.
North Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham (Conservative – Brigg and Wolds) said the council tax rise worked out to an £0.84p or less rise per week for eight out of ten families in North Lincolnshire. Extrapolated, this comes to £43.68 or less a year.
The budget showed the local authority’s “unstinting commitment to enhancement of community activities”. “We should never lose sight of people who support our communities,” he said, later adding the taxpayer continued to be “sovereign” in North Lincolnshire.
“In the interests of our residents, we are going to make sure we keep our promise and keep council tax as low as possible,” he said, as the Conservatives reduced the council tax increase by 0.1 per cent from original plans.
The opposition Labour group supported a budget based on a near-maximum council tax increase, and unsuccessfully moved for a 4.99 per cent increase.
Budget ‘driven by government dithery’
The Conservative-run council took aim at the Labour government several times during the budget meeting. Cllr Waltham claimed some local teachers would lose jobs because of budget pressures caused by the National Insurance employer contributions rise (NICs).
He said the NICs rise would cause an up to £8m a year impact for the council, £3m directly. Labour opposition later pointed out government cash to help meet this. Meanwhile, deputy council leader and cabinet member for independent families, adults and health Cllr Richard Hannigan (Conservative – Ferry) said the budget was “driven by government dithery” over three years to set out a plan on adult social care. “Why do we need to dither and wait for guidance for adult social care,” he said.
Labour opposition group leader Cllr Len Foster (Brumby) said it was “the first time in nine years” Cllr Waltham had committed to spending anywhere near the maximum pre-referendum increase. “We’re on the verge, 2-3 years down the road of declaring ourselves bankrupt,” he argued. Cllr Waltham disagreed: “We are nowhere near a Section 114.”
(Image: North Lincolnshire Council)
Free summer kids’ swimming sessions to continue
Different Conservative cabinet members during the meeting announced a number of measures and updates for the year ahead. These included:
- Free swimming lessons for kids in summer and Easter holidays to continue.
- Scunthorpe’s Discover 20-21’s vision was “well advanced”, said Cllr John Davison (Conservative – Bottesford), cabinet member for community wellbeing in urban areas, and the aim was for it to be open in time for the school summer holidays.
- Cllr Tim Mitchell, (Conservative – Axholme Central) cabinet member for connectivity, announced the council plans to “introduce an improved on-demand bus service later this year”.
- Cllr Carl Sherwood (Conservative – Brigg and Wolds), cabinet member for community wellbeing (rural), announced residents of pensionable age in North Lincolnshire will from April be entitled to two months’ free membership of the council’s leisure centres.
Labour’s amendment included not only the slightly higher council tax rise but also minor changes to council long-term investment plans. These Cllr Foster described as “issues which we believe the controlling group tend to neglect” and included: investment for Ashby Ville Nature Reserve area; support for Scunthorpe Central Community Centre; More cash towards playing facilities, particularly to cater for disabled children.
It was rejected by 24-14 votes. The Conservative budget was then endorsed 37-0.
The meeting had a poignant tinge to it, with several tributes to Labour’s Steve Swift, who passed away after falling ill mid-speech at last year’s budget meeting, and the Conservative’s John Briggs.
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
