West Norfolk Council proposes £4.50 council tax rise in budget

West Norfolk residents are likely to face an average £4.50 council tax rise under borough council budget plans, which are due to be debated for the first time this week.

Many charges for services would also increase under the proposals, although parking charges are set to be frozen.

But senior officials have warned the authority potentially faces major challenges beyond the next year, because of the continuing lack of clarity from central government over future funding arrangements.

The forthcoming financial year is the last of the present central government arrangements.

Deputy chief executive Lorraine Gore said: “The council can present a funded budget for all years of the medium term financial plan to 2023. There is significant uncertainty from 2020/2021.

“The impact of the implementation of the reform of the Business Rates Retention scheme and the Fair Funding Review from 2020/2021 are still unknown, but there is considerable downside risk.”

Around seven per cent of the council tax paid by West Norfolk is used to fund borough council services.

Their proposals allow for a £4.50 rise in the charge for a typical band D property, meaning those residents would pay £125.87 in 2019-20 for borough services.

Charges for car parking and admission to attractions such as Stories of Lynn will be frozen under the plans.

But the cost of hiring community halls and sports pitches is set to increase, along with services including bulk and commercial waste collection, funerals and administration like copying planning application papers.

Ms Gore said: “It remains difficult in the current economic climate to estimate levels of income in certain services including planning, car parks and industrial estates and a cautious approach has been taken in projecting forward.”

Around three-quarters of council tax goes to Norfolk County Council, which has already consulted on plans for a near three per cent rise.

Norfolk police and crime commissioner Lorne Green is also seeking the public’s views on whether the council tax spent on police services, currently around 13 per cent of an individual bill, should be raised.

Officials will make a presentation of the plans to the council's corporate performance panel on Wednesday before they are considered at a cabinet meeting next Tuesday.