O/T. Council tax

[caytonmiller]

Rotherham residents will see a rise of 4.5% in their council tax bills for the year ahead.

The South Yorkshire authority has agreed to a 1.5% increase to the basic part of the bill, with a 3% boost for adult social care.

The Labour-controlled council said the increase would raise an extra £120m to pay for "valuable front-line services".

A Conservative amendment to freeze the tax rise was defeated and the budget passed.

Council leader Chris Read said adult social care was the "single biggest pressure" on the budget and the authority needed to raise about £100m to cover the cost of that.

That was a 25% increase since the 2015 budget, he said.

"If we are to avoid cutting other services, we need to do what the government tells councils to do, and increase the adult social care levy," he added.

Residents in a Band D property are to pay an extra £72.66 per year, with annual council tax bill of £1,687.24, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Emily Barley, Conservative leader, said a number of council departments had underspent in the previous financial year and that money should be used to stem any tax rise.

The amendment was voted down and the budget was passed with 32 votes for and 19 against.

[caytonmiller]

Interest rates going up
Gas extortionate
Electric going through the roof
Car and house ins creeping up
Now council tax going up with a larger than usual bump.

I earn a decent wage and I'm starting to worry about the squeeze

[Ericsladkilnhurst]

Council rents also gone up, plus estates with communal heating having a 15% increase.

[Lolmorgan]

It will not bother the scrounges & won’t work can’t work.

[KerrAvon]

The whole country is going to face a real squeeze in the next few months and years, with the notion of disposable income disappearing for lots of people.

It's very worrying and, sadly, we have a government that will struggle to recognise the issue, let alone take steps to mitigate it for those affected.

[CAMiller]

It will not bother the scrounges & won’t work can’t work.

You mean pensioners?

Working into your 70s and 80s is fairly common in the US.

[KerrAvon]

I was planning to retire next March with the expectation that I would be able to live reasonably comfortably. I'm now thinking that I might have to look at that plan again.

[millertop]

It will not bother the scrounges & won’t work can’t work.

Correct

[caytonmiller]

The whole country is going to face a real squeeze in the next few months and years, with the notion of disposable income disappearing for lots of people.

It's very worrying and, sadly, we have a government that will struggle to recognise the issue, let alone take steps to mitigate it for those affected.

I had to laugh at the bank of England suggestions, people reject pay rises to help with inflation.. wonder if he rejects his pay rise/bonus!

[caytonmiller]

Council rents also gone up, plus estates with communal heating having a 15% increase.

Daughter lives in a flat with communal heating. She's working full time and is close to the bread line ATM. After April it could be make or break for her. There's always a bed for her but I'm dreading the thoughts of her coming back home