South Glos council tax to rise by 4.99 percent

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South Gloucestershire Council’s element of the council tax levied on local households is to increase by 4.99 percent from April 2021.

The latest rise follows uplifts of 3.99 percent in 2020/21 and 2.99 percent in 2019/20, the former including a ring-fenced levy of 2 percent to support adult social care.

The 2021/22 increase once again includes a social care levy, this time 3 percent, which is the maximum allowed by the government for the coming financial year.

The increase means that the South Gloucestershire Council element of council tax for a Band D property for 2021/22 will rise to £1,620.39.

A council spokesperson said:

“Over the past year, demand for council services has shifted as we have moved to deliver the help people have relied upon to manage during the pandemic. We have scaled back in some areas, where business as usual has not been possible due to restrictions, and had to increase the support we provide in others. We know that as normal life returns, however, that the sustained pressure on our adult social care services, for example, will continue.”

The council’s £251 million revenue budget allows for vital support for residents hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic. It includes a £1 million resilience funding package to widen the support net for those who had previously been ineligible; £102,000 ‘surge funding’ for expanding welfare debt advice; more support for domestic violence victims; and a pay boost targeted at the lowest paid council staff.

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The leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr Toby Savage, said:

“Our plans for the future are ambitious and our priorities are clear. This budget will help South Gloucestershire recover and rise.”

“We want to very best for our young people. We want our communities to thrive. And we want each individual, family and business trading in South Gloucestershire to prosper.”

“The collective response to the pandemic has shown how strong we can be when we act together, in the collective interest, which is why our spending plans aim to touch and improve everyone’s life experience and why we have developed a new £1 million fund to ensure that no one is left behind on our journey.”

“Council staff, community groups and the voluntary as well as the business sector have achieved so much in such difficult circumstances over the past year. While the end is hopefully in sight, we don’t just want to return to normal, we want to build a better future for everyone. We can all look forward together to brighter times ahead.”

In addition to the South Gloucestershire element, bills that will be coming through letterboxes in the next few weeks will include contributions to Avon and Somerset Police (up 5.88 percent, on top of a 4.59 percent hike last year) and Avon Fire & Rescue Service (up 1.99 percent), and the precept raised by Bradley Stoke Town Council (no increase this year), producing a grand total of £2,053.16 for a Band D property, an increase of 4.71 percent over last year.

Police increase tempered

Police Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens had initially proposed an increase of 6.6 percent (the maximum allowed under a government-imposed formula), but this was vetoed by the area’s Police and Crime Panel – the first time a PCC’s budget proposal had been vetoed in Avon and Somerset – and the Panel then wrote to the PCC with their concerns.

Following review of the Panel’s recommendations, attending an extraordinary Police and Crime Panel meeting and amending the budget to reduce the additional funds allocated for the incoming PCC’s initiatives (after the planned election in May 2021), Sue Mountstevens announced a revised precept increase of 5.88 percent.

PCC Sue Mountstevens said:

“I know that any increase in household bills is felt by local people and, after this extraordinary year, this rise is an even bigger ask. The pandemic has had a huge impact on our communities and has affected many people’s finances. The decision to raise the policing part of the council tax has not been taken lightly.”

“I know it is a difficult decision but if the council tax was not increased, Avon and Somerset Police would have to make significant cuts and their services to local people would be significantly reduced.”

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Bradley Stoke

Bradley Stoke Council Tax 2021/22.
Bradley Stoke Council Tax 2021/22.

Above: Total council tax figures for Bradley Stoke residents, comprising contributions to South Gloucestershire Council (including special expenses for services not uniformly provided across the district), Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue and Bradley Stoke Town Council. Figures for other parishes will vary.

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Stoke Gifford

Percentage increases for the individual elements of the tax are as for Bradley Stoke, except that the precept raised by Stoke Gifford Parish Council has been increased by 2.5 percent this year, producing a grand total of £2,008.27 for a Band D property, an increase of 4.95 percent over last year.

Stoke Gifford Council Tax 2021/22.
Stoke Gifford Council Tax 2021/22.

Above: Total council tax figures for Stoke Gifford residents, comprising contributions to South Gloucestershire Council (including special expenses for services not uniformly provided across the district), Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue and Stoke Gifford Parish Council. Figures for other parishes will vary.

More information about the council tax setting process can be found in reports presented to the following council meetings:

See also: Where your money goes 2021-22

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