Dudley council tax rise locked at 4.99% for three years

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 11:02 · Archive

Dudley's council tax is set to rise by 4.99% annually for the next three years under a government settlement that locks in the maximum permitted increase.

Dudley's council tax will increase by 4.99% annually for the next three years under a government settlement that effectively locks in the maximum rise an authority can approve without additional measures including a local referendum.

The council's cabinet member for finance, Cllr Steve Clark, confirmed this during a cabinet meeting on 8 October. He said the council had received a £12m settlement, whereas it was expecting £18m. 'The settlement was very poor, one of the poorest we have had,' he said, but added that the three-year deal was welcome because the council could plan with certainty rather than year by year.

The announcement is significant as Dudley is currently controlled by a minority Conservative administration, with Reform UK as the second largest group and eyeing an outright majority after next May's local elections. Reform UK leader Cllr Marco Longhi said that whoever controls the council next year and the year after will be forced to have a 4.99% increase in council tax.

How it is being reported

• Dudley council tax hike set to be 'fixed for three years'Reform eyeing taking control but have been told the maximum rise in tax has already been locked in by three year dealBirminghamLive · 13 Oct, 10:28
• Dudley Council tax hike set to be fixed for three yearsThe latest government settlement is a three-year plan which effectively locks in the maximum rise an authority can approveExpress & Star · 13 Oct, 10:14

In this story: Dudley · Dudley Council · Reform UK · Cllr Steve Clark · Cllr Marco Longhi

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem