Labour councillor calls on county council to prevent rise in Council Tax charges in Atherstone and Warwickshire

Cllr Helen Adkins, Leader of the Labour Group at Warwickshire County Council, has called upon the Conservative administration at WCC to prevent a proposed 2% council tax hike by lobbying the UK Government for more funds.

Cllr Adkins, said: "Central Government cuts to local government funding over the past decade have led to council leaders, such as yourself, increasing council tax year on year. I know that there are plans again to increase council tax by 2% across Warwickshire in this year's proposed budget.

"This will mean that households living in bands B and D will face an average rise of £91 next year under plans. It means council tax will have risen by 33% over the last ten years.

"I therefore urge you to join me in calling upon central government to immediately increase funds to local government in order to avoid another costly Council Tax increase for residents in Warwickshire at a time when many are facing financial pressures."

Cllr Adkins is echoing calls from Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak to stop their planned council tax hike and to help protect family incomes.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Starmer said: "Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak's council tax hike will hit families right at the very time millions are worried about the future of their jobs and how they will make ends meet."

Discussions over increases in council tax have persisted in the Houses of Parliament since it was announced in mid-December that local councils could increase council tax by up to 5%.

Local authorities will be able to put 2% on bills, plus another 3% if they provide adult social care, the government announced, increases will take affect from April - the start of the 2021/22 financial year.