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Created: 08 March 2024

Erewash pegs council tax rise at 2.99%

COUNCILLORS in Erewash have voted for a below-inflation 2.99 per cent rise in the borough’s council tax.

The decision came at a meeting of the full council on Thursday (7 March).

It means an extra 12p a week for a Band D property as the borough battles to keep bills down despite facing a cash squeeze itself.

Only a fraction of what people pay goes to Erewash – with the lion’s share taken by Derbyshire County Council.

Erewash’s leader Cllr James Dawson has vowed that the authority will continue lobbying the Government for more funding after the borough was forced to introduce subscriptions to keep its green waste collections going from 1 April.

Residents who want to continue getting their brown bins emptied will have to pay an annual £32 fee – although this falls to £20 for those signing up online before March 31.

Erewash remains confident it can balance its 2024/25 budget as it continues to explore savings. But like much of local government it faces huge deficits in 2025/26 and beyond.

A survey asking residents what the council’s priorities should be found almost six in ten are happy with the services it provides.

The same proportion – 59 per cent – said they also fully understood the cash-strapped authority’s financial situation and funding.

Just 20 per cent were dissatisfied with the council’s services. The online survey saw almost 300 residents seize the chance to give their views. Cllr Dawson said:

         “I want to thank everyone for taking time to respond to the consultation. It is the first time the council has done budget consultation in this way. All the feedback is gratefully received and will be used by the Executive to shape how we engage with residents and how we deliver in the future.”

Cllr Gordon Thomas, who is Erewash’s Lead Member for Resources, told the council meeting at Ilkeston Town Hall how Government funding for the borough was “again below what was needed”.

He and the leader had reacted to the initial offer by demanding a funding guarantee grant of at least three per cent more. They managed to get the sum upped by one per cent – £117,000.

Cllr Thomas said of the council managing to set a balanced budget without dipping into its depleted reserves: “It’s a fantastic achievement.”