The council tax rise for residents of Hyndburn borough will be confirmed today as the maximum 2.99 per cent - even bigger than the 1.99 per cent increase forecast by the authority's finance boss Peter Britcliffe last month.
The rise will add £5.19 per year to the bill a Band A terraced house and £7.79 annually to the payments for Band D semi detached family home from April 1.
Councillor Britcliffe will confirm the larger than expected increase when Hyndburn Council's Cabinet debates its budget for 2024/25 this afternoon.
He blames continuing inflation for the 2.99 per cent rise - the maximum permitted by the government for a lower-tier district council without a referendum.
It comes as Lancashire County Council's levy is set to rise by the maximum 4.99 per cent too, while the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner's police precept is also going up by 4.75 per cent, a triple whammy of tax rises for residents.
Cllr Britcliffe - Hyndburn Council's interim leader while its official political boss Cllr Marlene Haworth recovers from a stroke - said: "The increase for a Band A property is comparable to the price of a pint of lager."
At last month's cabinet meeting he warned that the Hyndburn's portion of the council tax for borough services was likely to rise by 1.99 per cent after being frozen for 2023/24.
Hyndburn's portion of borough residents' total council tax bills is small compared to those of Lancashire County Council - which provides major services such as education, children's and adult social care, and highways - and the police and fire and rescue services.
Cllr Britcliffe also set out the Conservative-led council's wider budget plans.
They include new funding is provided to reopen Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, repurpose Mercer Hall in Great Harwood, further improvements to Accrington Market Hall and significant investments across Hyndburn parks and green spaces.
Cllr Britcliffe has committed £390,000 over two years for refurbishment work to Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre so that it can reopen.
He also promised Mercer Hall would receiving £123,000 over two years to be repurposed as a community asset after the closure of its swimming baths.
Cllr Britcliffe has earmarked £100,000 for a partial refurbishment of Rhyddings Park and £15,000 for as new footbridge at Jackhouse Nature Reserve.
Responding to calls that King George’s Playing Fields be reopened to the public, the council has provisionally allocated £350,000 to that work.
An annual £85,000 will ensure that bulky waste collections remain free.
The council is investing £20,000 into an office of economic development.
Cllr Britcliffe said: "To ensure balanced budgets in a time when inflation has been high, fuel prices for the council waste fleet have gone up, and pay awards have been issued to council staff, Hyndburn Council will be raising council tax by 2.99 per cent.
“I am pleased to announce significant investment in the next year which will not only allow us to continue with levelling up projects, but also to invest in Oswaldtwistle’s Civic Theatre so it can reopen and Mercer Hall in Great Harwood so it can remain a community asset.
“We also have an aim to reopen King George’s Playing fields, something wanted by many residents."
Hyndburn Council's Labour group leader Cllr Munsif Dad has previously said: "Amidst a continued cost-of-living crisis, Hyndburn residents deserve relief, especially since the council is currently showing a budget surplus for this council tax year."
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