Council tax in Torbay set to rise by almost five per cent

By Rob Kershaw, Local Democracy Reporter

Torbay Council is proposing a council tax increase of almost five per cent as part of its provisional budget for 2023/24, released today.

An unexpected ten per cent inflation rate put pressure on Torbay in the last financial year, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis continues to have an effect.

Council officers estimate £8 million pounds’ worth of inflationary pressures on the budget.

To help tackle this, council leaders want to raise the tax by 2.99 per cent, with an additional two per cent for adult social care.

The authority says each council tax increment of one per cent generates three quarters of a million pounds.

Torbay’s officers claim a rise in council tax is the only feasible way to raise funds.

This year, central government gave Torbay £8 million in additional support for its budget, up from £2 million last year, but down more than £30 million a decade ago.

On top of the £8 million, the council also received £5.4 million for social care, but a one-off services grant has fallen by almost £1 million from last year.

It will press on with plans for new care accommodation at two locations in Paignton and Torquay.

People of working age who get support with their council tax payments will be given an automatic one-off payment of £100, and foster carers are set to receive a ‘thank you’ payment of £1,000, as part of a £5.25 million pot of support funding.

Also prioritised are the welfare support scheme, the exceptional circumstances fund, and mental health support.

The overall revenue budget is just over £130 million, from which adult and child support will receive the most.

Council leader Cllr Steve Darling said: “We will continue to lobby for a fairer deal for Torbay along with other local authorities so we can build a stronger economy and create safer environments for vulnerable adults and children.

"In the meantime, we continue to tackle the challenges head on and put people at the heart of our budget proposals.

“Last year we faced financial challenges owing to the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic; this year we are faced with further pressures due to the cost-of-living crisis which is affecting us all.

“Where we can, we will help to ease the financial burden that many households are facing whilst delivering services to our communities.”

Starting tomorrow (Wednesday, January 11), the proposal to increase council tax in Torbay by 4.99 per cent will go through a public consultation until Sunday, February 12.

The budget needs to be agreed by the end of the next council meeting in March.