Exeter Council Tax Rise Proposed

• News Home
• More from Local News

Thursday, January 13th, 2022 11:28am

By Ollie Heptinstall Local Democracy Reporter

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

Councillors will ultimately vote on any potential rise in the coming weeks, but if passed it will follow similar increases proposed by other local authorities in Devon in light of rising inflation and reduced revenues because of the pandemic.

Council tax in Exeter is likely to go up after budget plans based on a £5 annual increase were revealed.
Councillors will ultimately vote on any potential rise in the coming weeks, but if passed it will follow similar increases proposed by other local authorities in Devon in light of rising inflation and reduced revenues because of the pandemic.
The amount is the maximum district councils are allowed to increase their share of council tax for the next financial year without going to a referendum.
A £5 rise means the city’s element of council tax for a band D property would go up to £170.05. This is less than 10 per cent of a typical household’s total council tax bill and is separate from the larger element that goes to Devon County Council, the police and the fire services.
A report to the city council’s executive on this week set out how the £5 rise, along with a small surplus and an increase in the number of properties paying council tax, would give the council roughly an extra £165,000 next year.
However, an allowance of just under £625,000 has been set aside for inflation, including provision for a 13 per cent jump in oil prices and 7.4 per cent for electricity amid surging energy prices.
Council leader Phil Bialyk (Labour, Exwick) said: “despite our estimates in [the report], inflation could be going anywhere at this moment in time,” while finance officer Dave Hodgson added it was “quite a significant added cost.”
Councillor Ruth Williams (Labour, Mincinglake & Whipton) explained the lack of debate on the budget strategy by saying members had been invited to a private briefing on the budget last week, where Mr Hodgson had explained the “intricacies.”
The report warned covid is continuing to cause “uncertainty around income levels for the council,” adding: “This will affect not only sales, fees and charges, but potentially business rates and council tax income as well.”
It also said £6.6 million of cuts would be needed in future years if two key government grants – business rates and the new homes bonus – were to stop. A ‘fair funding review’ for local authorities by the government has been beset by delays.
Members of the executive noted the report and approved the proposals to establish a balanced revenue budget and capital programme. The full budget, including any rise in council tax, will be presented to future meetings for approval.

More from Local News

• Denis the Dustcart honoured with commendation from former Lord Mayor

  Denis the Dustcart, Exeter City Council’s popular online recycling and sustainability champion, has been honoured with a Lord Mayor’s Commendation. The honour is in recognition for education around issues and initiatives to address climate change and engaging Exeter residents successfully through his Facebook page.

• Help is available for residents living with hoarding at home

  It is estimated that hoarding affects between two and five per cent of the population. Excessive hoarding can contribute to health and safety issues including risk of fire and blocking of escape routes as well as contributing to underlying mental health problems.

• Local Cricket Results from the Weekends Games

  In the A Division batting first Exmouth scored a massive 404 runs in their 50 overs for the loss of just 4 wickets at Killmington who were then bowled out for 203 in just 37 overs.

• Labour Candidate named as Liz Pole who also stood at 2019 election - finishing second behind Neil Parish 

  Ms Pole, chair of the local Labour party, also stood at the last election in 2019 – finishing a distant second and some 24,000 votes behind Mr Parish.

• Former head teacher Helen Hurford chosen to represent Tories in Tiverton and Honiton by-election

  The former head teacher, who is currently deputy mayor of Honiton, was selected by Tory members at the weekend. Voters will go to the polls on Thursday 23 June to elect their new MP, following the resignation of Conservative Neil Parish.

• The leader of East Devon District Council Paul Arnott has been chosen by councillors to serve as leader for another year

  Author and former TV producer Cllr Arnott has been leader of the council since May 2020 and a councillor since 2019.  Though elections for seats on the council take place every four years, the position of leader is chosen by councillors annually. 

• Nearly 100 East Devon households have come forward to offer homes to Ukrainian refugees

  Speaking at East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) annual meeting, chair of the council Cllr Ian Thomas (Independent, Trinity) announced that approximately 95 households have now offered homes as part of the government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme.

• Independent Councillor Ian Thomas keeps his post as Chair of East Devon

  A “forward-thinking and professional,” chair of East Devon District Council has been re-elected for another term. Ian Thomas (Independent, Trinity), who has been a councillor since 2015, was chosen again following a vote at the annual meeting, the council’s equivalent of an AGM.