Hartlepool council tax bills total set for 2020/21 - this is how much you will pay
Council bosses have confirmed the overall council tax for Hartlepool residents will increase by a total of 3.8% for 2020/21.
In December 2019 Hartlepool Borough Council approved increasing its council tax by 3.9%, including the 2% adult social care precept.
Council leader Coun Shane Moore said at the time it went against ‘every fibre of his being’ but there was ‘no viable alternative’ following years of government cuts.
The council tax contributions to the Police and Crime Commissioner and Cleveland Fire Authority have now been confirmed and when the overall rise is calculated it means the total rise for areas without a parish council will be 3.8%, compared to 4.6% for 2019/20.
Areas with parish councils – just 8.5% of Hartlepool households – will also have an extra council tax cost added on.
The Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner increase is 4%, which equates to an extra £6.66 a year for a Band A property.
Cleveland Fire Authority moved to increase its council tax share by 1.9% earlier this month after slamming the Government for nine years of cuts.
For a property in Band A, which 53% of Hartlepool households are, the total council tax will rise by £51.45, excluding any additional parish precepts.
Out of this, £43.82 more will go to the council (including the 2% adult social care precept), £6.66 will go the Police and Crime Commissioner and 98p will go to the Cleveland Fire Authority.
Coun Moore noted although there has been a national increase in core spending power to councils, most comes from the assumption from government local councils will increase council tax.
He said: “The government council tax referendum limits continue to shift funding for local services from the national taxation to council tax, and means authorities either increase council tax in line with these limits or reduce spending on services.”
In total Band A properties in areas without a parish council, will pay £1,393.58 in council tax for the year, with £1,167.34 going to the council (including the adult social care precept), £173.69 going to the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and £52.55 going to Cleveland Fire Authority.