GOVERNMENT MINISTERS have approved plans which could see Worcestershire residents hit with a nine per cent council tax hike in the Spring.
Local Government Minister Alison McGovern wrote to West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin to confirm that the council has asked for special permission to apply the larger council tax increase to appear on council tax bills in April.
The MP warned local people in October that the council was eying up plans to break the five per cent cap.
The Reform-led Worcestershire County Council has already scaled back its ambition by slashing road and transport spending and cancelling a new secondary school in Worcester.
Dame Harriett said: “Reform councillors were elected last May on a promise of finding efficiency savings to keep council tax down yet they immediately hatched plans to increase council tax to balance the budget.
“Previous Conservative administrations have kept council tax under control and annual increases within national guidelines but so soon into a new council spending period, the leadership has asked for eye-watering increases which will hit local people deep in their pockets.
“The council is in disarray with councillors resigning from the Reform administration over this shocking decision.
“Local people will want to know how the council can justify this massive increase and what improvements in services will come from this extra demand for cash.”
