Huntingdonshire District Council will increase Council Tax

Huntingdonshire Band D Council Tax will increase by £5 a year to £160.86, from the new financial year (which starts on April 1, 2024).

The rise means that the average household will pay around £3 a week for all of the services that Huntingdonshire District Council provide.

The announcement from Huntingdonshire District Council comes just days after East Cambridgeshire District Council confirmed that it would be freezing its Council Tax in the 2024 financial year.

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Councillor Sarah Conboy, Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, defended the decision following the budget approval at the Full Council meeting.

She said: "We have made some unpopular but prudent decisions to ensure that we continue to be here for our residents and provide the services they need."

Cllr Conboy added that she was "proud that we are delivering on our promise of long-term financial sustainability."

Councillor Brett Mickelburgh, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, said: "We have set a budget which is balanced, does not spend reserves and, importantly, protects frontline services.

"All this at a time of decreasing government funding, rising costs and inflation, and greater pressure on our services.

Cllr Mickelburgh said that Huntingdonshire District Council "believe(s) in the protection of services for our most vulnerable people, so individuals or families avoid falling into crisis."

"We can achieve this through our continued approaches built on prevention and early intervention, such as the new Council Tax Support Scheme."

A spokesperson for Huntingdonshire District Council said that the Council will be "improving the quality of life for local people, looking after the most vulnerable, creating a better Huntingdonshire for future generations and delivering good quality, high value-for-money services."