February 20, 2015 4.36 pm This story is over 109 months old

Lincolnshire councillors vote for rise in allowance and council tax

Allowance rise: Members of Lincolnshire County Council have agreed a rise in councillors allowances and council tax.
Lincolnshire County Council said an emergency fund wasn't necessary | Photo: File/The Lincolnite

Members of Lincolnshire County Council have agreed a 2.2% rise in councillors’ allowances at a full meeting on Friday, February 20.

The rise takes basic allowances for county councillors from £10,100 to £10,322 a year.

Councillors also voted at the meeting to put council tax up by 1.9% for the financial year 2015/16.

The increase will add just over £20 a year to the annual bill of an average band D property in Lincolnshire.

The total amount residents pay will depend on the levels set by district and parish/town councils, and Lincolnshire Police.

The Police and Crime Panel for the county agreed a 1.95% precept increase on Friday, February 6.

The council also agreed the budget for the next financial year, addressing the £56m budget gap, resulting from a tough financial settlement from Westminster.

Councillors identified £30m of extra annual savings, as well as drawing on £22m of the council’s reserves to help meet the financial shortfall. The council tax rise will bring in a further £4m.

Areas where budgets will see little reduction include safeguarding for children and adults, flood risk management, and fire and rescue.

Executive Councillor for finance and property, Councillor Marc Jones, said: “The budget for the next year takes a sensible and pragmatic approach so we can continue providing the best possible services to people in the face of growing demand and further financial uncertainty.

“Through careful housekeeping, we have built reserves up over the years. When times were better we saved for a rainy day. This budget uses some of these funds to meet our financial challenges in the short term, but we can’t be complacent. Our savings can only be spent once.”