Final council tax bills set for Hartlepool - this is how much you will pay

Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs confirmed in January they will freeze council tax for residents in the town for 2021/22, and will also not implement an increase in the adult social care precept.

At Thursday’s full council meeting councillors received an update on the final local government finance settlement received for the year, and confirmed the final council tax calculations for 2021/22.

Overall the 91.5% of households in Hartlepool who do not pay an additional parish council precept, will see a 0.32% increase in their council tax bills, in comparison to the 3.8% increase in 2020/21.

This reflects the council tax freeze approved by the council and the increases approved by the Police and Crime Commissioner and Cleveland Fire Authority.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner increased its council tax precept for Band D properties by £5.19 for the year, substantially below the national limit of £15, equating to a £3.46 rise for Band A households.

Cleveland Fire Authority increased its council tax precept by 1.9%, which equates to a £1.50 annual rise for Band D properties, or £1 for Band A properties.

Council finance chiefs have said this means Band A properties, which covers 53% of Hartlepool households, will see a £4.46 increase in their annual council tax bill, rising from £1,393.58 to £1,398.04.

In total £1,167.34 will go to the council (including the adult social care precept), £177.15 to the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and £53.55 to Cleveland Fire Authority.

Cllr Shane Moore, Hartlepool Borough Council leader, presented the report to full council, adding it was ‘disappointing’ the Government is not providing greater funding to local authorities.

He said: “As we know the settlement was very disappointing and fails to provide the grant increases we needed to protect local services.

“The report deals with the statutory budget and council tax calculations that the law requires full council to approve.

“This is an administrative responsibility, as the council previously approved the council tax freeze, and the police and fire council tax levels have been independently set.”

Speaking at the previous full council meeting last month, Cllr Moore said the council is still waiting for long term funding plans from the Government, following numerous years of funding cuts previously.

He added shifting costs onto residents through increases in council tax and the adult social care precept is ‘not fair or sustainable’.

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