Fenland District Council cuts council tax as budget approved
After four years of council tax freezes, Fenland District Council has cut its portion of the bill by 2% to further support residents amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Members agreed to reduce its element of the council tax for the 2023/24 tax year when the annual budget was approved at Full Council yesterday, Monday 20 February.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to freeze council tax for a further four years thereafter, through to 2027/28.
Cllr Chris Boden, Leader of Fenland District Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "We work incredibly hard as a Council to achieve a balanced budget every year, and we do this without the assumption that residents should help to pay for it.
"Four years ago, we made the commitment that we wouldn't increase council tax, and thanks to diligent financial management we've been able to do that again and again without placing additional financial burden on residents. This year I'm delighted and proud that we can go even further and deliver a reduction in council tax of 2%.
"We have also achieved this while still delivering excellent, good-value services that local people can rely on, and high levels of customer satisfaction."
The 2% reduction in Fenland's portion of the council tax equates to over £162,000 total savings for residents.
The precept cut means someone living in a Band D household will pay just £255.24 a year for the Council's services, down from £260.46 in 2022/23.
Most residents will pay even less council tax as around 83% of Fenland's homes are in Bands A-C.
Residents will still see a rise in their overall council tax bill due to proposed increases from other precepting authorities, including a 4.99% rise from Cambridgeshire County Council (including 3% for the Adult Social Care precept and 1.99% on the general council tax), a 5.80% rise from the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner and a 6.60% rise from Cambridgeshire Fire Authority.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has also agreed a precept for the first time in 2023/24, resulting in a council tax level of £12 on a Band D property.
Article date: February 2023
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