North Tyneside is on the brink of approving a council tax hike, affecting many residents. The increase aims to support vulnerable households while managing budget cuts.
If it goes through, some residents could see their bills jump by £96.98 annually. The proposed hike is 4.99%, but the council plans to keep supporting those in need.
From April, band A properties will see a £64.56 increase, while band D properties will face that £96.98 rise. The police and fire service costs tied to council tax are still being worked out.
The full council will decide on the budget proposals on February 13. The council is also committed to helping low-income households. They offer up to 85% off for eligible working-age claimants.
Pensioners can get up to 100% off their bills. Plus, there’s a local support scheme that gives up to £150 for eligible working-age folks.
This tax rise comes as the council looks to save around £11 million. Social care for adults and kids is putting a strain on finances, just like in many places across the UK.
Children’s services alone are facing a £13.8 million pressure due to the increasing complexity of cases. The council is also dealing with high costs for vulnerable kids in care, averaging £7,651 a week.
To cut costs, they’ve started a voluntary redundancy scheme, aiming to save £6.5 million over two years, which could mean about 200 job losses.
They also hope to save £2 million from adult social care by reducing reliance on private services and encouraging care at home.
