2.5 per cent tax hike 'set to help residents'

By [bbanks]

Council tax bills for Lincoln residents are to rise by 2.5 per cent from April, it has been confirmed.

The City of Lincoln Council, which a sets the rate for the district, rubber stamped the increase at a full council meeting last night.

This means the Tory-run authority's portion will increase by £5.76 per year on a Band D property, bringing the total to be collected yearly to £1481.22p – a rise of around 71p a week.

Leader of the council Councillor Darren Grice said: "Council tax is the third biggest income for the authority, way behind the grant from Central Government and the money we raise through charging for certain services.

"We appreciate that the economic situation for our residents is challenging and took this into consideration when setting the new rate."

West Lindsey District Council has also given the nod to a record-low increase of just 0.48 per cent, which amounts to around 90p a year for Band D properties.

New bills will be sent out by the end of the month.

The rate was discussed as part of the council's five-year financial plan, which included setting the net budget for the coming year at £16.8 million.

Plans outlined will see pensioners remain on the previous year's council tax rate, grants allocated to improve parks and play schemes and concessionary travel being taken over by Lincolnshire County Council next year.

According to the council this latest budget is about consolidating savings which have been made through a review of services, rather than reviewing how resources are used.

It was also announced members would have their allowances frozen and employees would not get any pay rise over the next financial year.