Council Tax Rise Above Inflation... Again!

I'm guessing I'm not the only resident to have received their 2021/22 Council Tax Bill. Well, ever since the Government started cutting back payment of Central Government Revenue Support Grant to local councils in 2010, Hastings has been bashed, becoming one of the first 40% of local councils to have central funding completely taken away in 2019 (blog). Indeed, recent above inflation increases have been because of council tax payers having to provide the funds to pay for the recruitment of police officers to replace the thousands that Central Government has got rid of since 2010.

For the third year running the annual 'precept' that we have had to pay to the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner has far exceeded the rest of the council tax percentage increases. In 2019/20 this part of the council tax bill increased by a massive 14.5%! In 2020/21 it increased by 7.8%, and this year by 7.5%, and all to pay for Central Government's promises to increase the number of police officers. We, Hastings council tax payers are in fact funding Government promises, and they take the applause!

Reasons for 2021/2022 Bill increase:

• East Sussex County Council contribution increased by 2.0%
• Adult Social Care contribution increased by 1.5%
• Hastings Borough Council contribution increased by 2.0%
• East Sussex Fire Authority contribution increased by 2.0%
• Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner contribution increased by 7.5% 

And, if you consider the inflation rate is currently either just below or just above 1.0%, depending on which figures you use, the Consumer Prices Index or Retail Prices Index, we are paying an increase of way above the inflation rate; incidentally, the Government and Bank of England inflation target is 2.0%, hence councils are allowed to make increases in council tax for that amount. 

So we, local council tax payers, are being allowed to pay above the targeted 2.0% increases for council services to pay for the Government's promises and ineptitude, that is, the Government allows us to pay increases way above the inflation rate for our police service. Great, eh? We are paying to make up for 11 years now of Central Government underfunding of the Police, many thanks Johnson! 😒