COUNCIL tax will increase by 4.5 per cent this year - the biggest rise in ten years - but Barnsley Council will reject the option offered by government of putting it up by six per cent.
Last month the Chronicle reported the council was being given powers to put up council tax by three per cent generally, and by an additional three per cent to cover the rising cost of adult social care.
But this week council leader Sir Steve Houghton said after discussions with councillors, he was recommending an increase of 4.5 per cent made up of three per cent in the basic figure, plus 1.5 per cent for social care - a proposal which will be subject to a vote of the full council on February 22.
“We are concerned about increasing bills,” Sir Steve told the Chronicle.
“We know 4.5 per cent is still a significant increase, but we’re facing another £5m in cuts next year.
“We’re waiting for a public sector pay award to be agreed nationally. We support that, because there’s an awful lot of low-paid public sector workers who deserve an increase in pay after ten years of austerity, but clearly we’ve got to pay for that.”
