Council tax to increase by 4.99 per cent in Rotherham

Rotherham Borough Council is set to increase the levy by 4.99 per cent - just below the five per cent threshold for a local referendum.

The increase includes three per cent which is ring-fenced for adult social care and follows a 3.95 per cent total hike last year.

The move will generate a total of £95 million in council tax for RMBC for 2017/18 - equivalent to 46 per cent of the revenue budget.

And it will mean band D properties paying £1,394 for the council’s services next year.

The council’s reserves stood at £99.7 million at the start of the current financial year last April. 

Before Christmas, bosses proposed taking £5.2 million to help with budget pressures over the next two years.

Now they are suggesting taking a further £5.3 million - mostly to help with children’s services.

Chief finance manager Pete Hudson said: “The council currently has a healthy balance of reserves to mitigate overall budget risk in the short term and to support the budget in the medium term.

“The proposals include replenishing reserves that are being used and hence support a sustainable financial plan.

“In essence, the strategy is to use some reserves earlier than was previously planned and to replenish them later.”

The plans include a repayment back into the pot of £3 million a year from 2018/19.