Council tax rise in Stockton of nearly 2% agreed by council

A near 2% council tax rise for Stockton residents has been pushed through by councillors.

A full meeting of Stockton Council was told the rise was needed as the authority faces a 43% cash reduction in Government funding from £120m in 2010/11 to £68m in 2015/16.

As part of plans to balance the budget, a council tax rise of 1.9% for 2015/16 was recommended by the authority’s Cabinet earlier this month.

Council leader Councillor Bob Cook, Labour, told last night’s meeting that the authority was facing the second worst Central Government budget cut in the country.

“This Government continues to hit areas with the most need like Stockton the hardest,” he said. “We in Stockton have some of the most deprived areas in the country.

Cllr Cook warned that to accept the Government’s offer of a council tax freeze now would lead to increased financial pressures in the future. “This could mean the closure of Billingham Forum and Splash,” he said.

The Conservative group tabled an amendment to accept the council tax freeze, supported by the Lib Dems group.

Tory group leader Councillor Ben Houchen urged his fellow members “not to bash the people of Stockton and take the freeze - this is the sensible way forward,” he said.

“If this budget goes through we will be looking at a 10% increase in council tax since 2011.”

Lid Dem group leader Councillor Maureen Rigg backed the amendment, saying: “We can’t justify an increase to our residents when last year’s doom and gloom statement was then replaced by a decision later in the year to invest millions.

“Our residents look at that and say ‘Why are we putting council tax up?’”

But as the debate grew heated, Labour councillor Bob Gibson, told his Tory and Lib Dem colleagues: “You’re setting out a budget here that in two or three years time will absolutely devastate this council.”

Councillor Mike Clark, Labour, added: “Most people realise now this council has got a very raw deal from the Government.”

The amendment was defeated by a vote of 39 to 12.

For a Band A property the 1.9% council tax increase will mean an extra 32p a week on the current £875 annual bill. The increase would be 49p a week for those properties in Band D.