Bracknell Forest Council tax increase of 3.49 per cent approved

The proposed hike will mean band D households will pay around £1,403.19 a year.

This translates to an increase of 91p per week for band D properties.

How much will I pay next year?

Those living in the least expensive properties in the borough (band A) will pay around £935 a year (excluding parish council precepts) and those living in the dearest households (band H) will stump up around £2,806 following the council tax hike.

The extra cash will pay for Bracknell Forest Council’s frontline services in 2021/2022, such as funding social care for vulnerable residents, bin collections, maintaining parks and open spaces and more.

A 3.49 per cent increase is below the maximum permitted increase of 4.99 per cent.

Local authorities can set council tax hikes of two per cent plus an extra three per cent if they have a responsibility for adult social care, which Bracknell Forest does.

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The extra three per cent can be split across two years, meaning another 1.5 per cent increase could come in 2022/2023.

However, Bracknell Forest Council says the 3.49 per cent increase is “expected to be one of the lowest increases in the country.”

Councillor Peter Heydon, the council’s finance boss, said: “Every year the council faces financial pressures and challenges. Inevitably, the ongoing pandemic has impacted this further.

“We understand an increase in council tax is never welcomed, and we don’t take the decision lightly, however, it is often unavoidable due to the financial pressures we, like other authorities in the UK, face each year.”

What does Bracknell Forest Council's financial position look like?

In December 2020, it was originally envisaged that Bracknell Forest Council would face a £6.2 million funding gap going into 2021/2022.

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But a funding boost from the government gave the authority some ‘unexpected’ financial flexibility in its budget and meant the level of anticipated spending was £2.256 million above the level of anticipated income for 2021/2022

Following this boost, updated spending proposals indicate the council is set to spend £2.327 million on six projects to support the borough and its residents.

One of these schemes is a £500,000 initiative to give Bracknell Forest’s most vulnerable residents a £150 reduction in their council tax bills.

Councillor Heydon continued: “This year we are not increasing council tax as much as we are permitted to do and we’re identifying and supporting those who are on lowest incomes by providing a £150 reduction on their council tax bill.

“Not only does Bracknell Forest still represent one of the lowest council tax charges amongst all unitary authorities, but we will also have one of the lowest council tax increases in the country.

“Additionally, the one-off government grant will enable us to maintain all our services, allowing us to continue to support our residents, particularly the most vulnerable.

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“As we head into another financial year of uncertainty that the ongoing pandemic brings, we will continue to manage our finances well and work within our means without overspending on budgets.

“We will take this considered approach through forward planning and sound financial management, balancing the medium-term sustainability of the council’s finances while helping the borough recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The proposed council tax hike was nodded through by BFC’s top team earlier this evening (February 8) and will be voted on by the council at a meeting held on February 24.