At its last budget meeting on Monday 2 March, ENC agreed to increase its share of Council Tax for 2020-21 which would add £5 per year to the average household in the district’s Council Tax bill.
This will fund services in the district, ensure ENC is financially secure for the next year and contribute to the preparation work for the new North Northamptonshire Council which will come into existence on 1 April 2021.
The council takes only around 9p in every pound of the total Council Tax collected, with the rest of the money going to Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and town and parish councils. Only 9% of what is collected goes to ENC and enables the council to deliver the services it’s responsible for including waste collections and free car parking in council-owned car parks.
Cllr Steven North, Leader of ENC, said:
“As a council, we have always been prudent on council tax and will going towards the new North Northamptonshire Council with one of the lowest rates in the country.
“Increasing council tax, even by a small amount, is not a decision we take lightly, however the financial climate in which local government operates continues to be a challenge and we always have one eye on the future, as well as delivering current projects and working with the community.
“Over the past year, we have continued to deliver economic growth, including developments such as Enterprise Centre East Northants and Rushden Lakes, whilst remaining mindful of residents and local businesses. ENC Officers and councillors continue to work closely, supporting the community across the district and most recently our commercial and economic and business rates team have supported businesses at Rushden Lakes affected by recent bad weather.
“With all these factors in mind, we agreed a very small increase, which for a Band D property works out at £5 over the year and equates to 3.48% overall for all households.”
For more information about Council Tax in East Northants and your band, please visit www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/counciltax.