Average council tax bill to rise by more than £100

A TYPICAL council tax bill in the Yate and Sodbury area will rise by more than £100 in April.

South Gloucestershire Council has agreed a 4.99% increase - the maximum allowed without calling a referendum.

The council's basic charge for services in the median Band D is rising from £1,647.66 to £1,727.98 - £80.32 higher than last year.

But the authority says that when the amount it charges residents of different parishes for 'special expenses' - for any maintenance it does of neighbourhood facilities such as parks, open spaces and bus shelters - is added, the average Band D bill for its services will be £1,752.11, a figure £87.47 up on last year's equivalent.

But special expenses charges vary between areas, as do the precepts charged by town and parish councils - the more services provided, the higher they are.

In areas covered by Yate Town Council, the parish precept has topped £200 for the first time this year, a £9.54 increase. Special expenses charges in the parish are up by £4.72.

In Sodbury Town Council's area the Band D precept has decreased by 1p this year, although South Gloucestershire's special expenses are up by £3.62.

Sodbury has increased its budget by nearly £9,000, but extra new homes built in an area add extra taxpayers to the tax base, which can give a council enough extra money to not need to raise the precept.

Dodington Parish Council's precept is £3.93 higher than last year, while special expenses in the parish are up by £4.47.

Elsewhere, Westerleigh & Coalpit Heath, Rangeworthy and Iron Acton parish councils have all been able to decrease their precepts.

Council tax bills also include charges for the region's police and fire services.

The Avon & Somerset police precept for Band D taxpayers is rising by £15 (just under 6%), from £251.20 to £266.20, and the Avon Fire Authority charge will rise by £5 (6.4%) in Band D, from £77.95 to £82.95.

When all of the increases are added up, overall Band D bills will rise by £114.58 for Yate Town Council residents, £103.93 for Sodbury and £108.72 for Dodington.

South Gloucestershire Council's spending plans comprise £287 million for day-to-day services, £132m on major capital and infrastructure projects and £267m to schools, skills and early learning.

They include an extra £1m for road repairs, solar panels for all council buildings and funding for a new Street Enforcement Service to tackle environmental crimes.

Council leader Toby Savage said: "I am pleased that we are able to set a budget that builds on our hard work in previous years and which continues to deliver on our priorities for residents and businesses across South Gloucestershire."

The Conservative

Band D council tax bills 2023/24

*Total bill is parish and special expenses charge, plus South Gloucestershire, police and fire charges. Figures from South Gloucestershire Council administration accepted ideas from opposition groups at the budget-setting meeting on February 15, with Labour securing a dedicated enforcement officer to ensure private rented homes are brought up to minimum standards and the Liberal Democrats winning backing for action on climate change and the cost-of-living crisis, with initiatives to help residents and businesses cut emissions.

Plans to increase green bin charges from £30 to £55 and cut the streetcare team and Chipping Sodbury taxi marshals were withdrawn ahead of the meeting. But some council services are being reduced and charges increased, to plug a £24m shortfall and balance the books for the next three years.

Opposition councillors warned that many of the savings are “hidden” behind reviews that need working through rather than finalised proposals.

Lib Dem spokesperson for corporate resources Jon Lean said: "In a time of rising prices for all and even the increasing use of food banks, this budget removes support for some of the people most in need in our area – cuts to the preparingfor-adulthood service, cuts to the opening hours of One Stop Shops, cuts to well-being services that promote healthy lifestyles."