Sandwell Council is to set one of the lowest Council Tax rises in the West Midlands.
The council’s cabinet is meeting this week, where it is proposed to give the go-ahead for a 1.8 per cent rise.
It follows a promise last month by council leader Bill Thomas that the rise would be below the rate of inflation.
He said: “This rise will be one of the lowest in the country, and it is the lowest set by Sandwell in its 35-year history.”
Even with the addition of precepts from West Midlands Fire Authority and West Midlands Police, the rise will only go up to 1.96 per cent – virtually a full one per cent lower than last year.
The new bandings are set to be ratified by the cabinet on Wednesday. Figures include the precept for West Midlands Fire and West Midlands Police: Band A – £872.62, Band B – £1,018.05, Band C – £1,163.49, Band D - £1,308.93, Band E – £1,599.80, Band F – £1,890.67, Band G – £2,181.55, band H – £2,617.86.
Wolverhampton councillors are looking at giving the nod to a hike of 3.49 per cent in the charge, including police and fire service precepts.
The rise will see most householders in the city paying an extra £38 on council tax over the year.
Wolverhampton City Council leader Neville Patten, said: “The recommended increase in council tax is much lower than the indicative figure of 4.9 per cent reported to council in March 2008 as part of the previous administration’s medium term financial strategy – and is the lowest increase since 1994.
“The vast majority of the £158.7 million capital investment planned this year comes from external sources such as direct grants from the Government or organisations such as Advantage West Midlands and the Lottery Fund.
After they have been seen by the cabinet, the council tax recommendations will go to the special meeting of the authority on March 4.
