Labour call for Newark and Sherwood District Council Tax freeze

The Labour Group will table a motion to object to plans that will see residents pay more in council tax from April.

Newark and Sherwood District Council's plans to raise its portion of bills by 1.94% under the proposal was approved by cabinet in February.

For example, Band D homes would be paying £3.60 more to the district council ­— or £189.20 in total for the year.

Cabinet members voted to recommend that the council tax plans are approved by full council at the next meeting on March 9.

However, councillor Paul Peacock voted against the increase and the Labour Group plans to table a motion to full council with different recommendations.

Labour Group leader Mr Peacock said: "No one wants to pay more tax, this year more than any other year in living history people are feeling the pinch. The tax burden is the highest since the 1940s, we are paying 20% VAT on most of the things we buy and around 75p of every litre of fuel we buy goes to the government.

"Our residents are dealing with grocery inflation of 17%, energy bills that have doubled and housing costs that continue to rise. On top of this all elements of council tax are set to rise in 2023/24 including Newark and Sherwood’s element.

"As our residents struggle with the cost-of-living crisis I think it is incumbent on Newark and Sherwood District Council to minimise their costs, send a clear message that we are on their side, that we understand the challenges they face and that we are here to help.

"Government funding for councils has more than halved since 2010 forcing council tax up. Newark and Sherwood District Council receives about £6M per year less than it did in 2010. As council tax has increased local services have been cut.

"Newark and Sherwood District Council workforce has adapted well, doing more with less. I think we now face a new challenge though; we must work even harder for our residents; they have been paying too much Council Tax for too long.

"For a number of years the Labour Group and I have been calling for a lower charge to residents. Conservative colleagues have called us irresponsible (and worse) for this, they have told us countless times that they are doing what is best for residents by increasing council tax.

"It is a matter of public record that since 2015 Newark and Sherwood District Council have moved over £15M from revenue streams into reserves; the Council has underspent year on year and banked it.

"The Conservatives argue that the government has not provided the certainty of future funding for Local Councils and that we must save to cover for this uncertainty. We desperately need a government that will give councils funding certainty.

"Once more, this year I will be calling for the Newark and Sherwood element of council tax to be frozen. The cost to the council in lost income will be £150,000 and this will have a knock-on effect in future years. Again, the facts are a matter of public record; the Council are predicting to move £2m from revenue streams into reserves (bank a further £2m) during 2023/24. This clearly shows that the proposed increase is unnecessary, and the responsible measure is to freeze council tax."