Fareham council looks to increase council tax as it faces million pound shortfall again due to the Covid-19 pandemic

A public consultation has been opened to gather ideas as Fareham Borough Council faces another financial year hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

The last ten months has put severe pressure on the council’s budget - incurring around £260,000 of additional expenditure while income has fallen by approximately £1.6m.

Now the authority says a ‘balance’ has to be struck between making increases to council tax, lobbying the government for more funding, changing charges, and reviewing services based on resident’s priorities.

Last October, the council agreed to take £1.1m from its general reserves to shore-up its operations – now it faces taking a further £1.2m from the same reserves.

Meanwhile, a proposal to hike council tax for the second year running – working out to be a £5 per year increases for an average band D property – will be discussed by executive council members on Monday.

Council leader Sean Woodward said the proposed increase could have a positive impact at a cost that was ‘minuscule in the grand scheme of things’.

Cllr Woodward added: ‘It works out to be a penny a day for the average band D property.

‘Fareham has one of the lowest council tax rates in the country, bar about four authorities.

‘People in hardship is nothing new, but there a lot more of them now. We are very conscious of this. We had froze council the council tax for a number of years.’

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The council has issued 2,000 grants totaling more than £20.4m support to local businesses during the pandemic, as well as supporting food banks and making pitches free at Fareham Market.

The re-opening of leisure centres also dented last year’s budget, with the council allocating more than £1.8m to support Holly Hill Leisure Centre and Fareham Leisure Centre reopening after the first national lockdown.

In September, charges at coastal car parks were introduced to further boost revenue, prompting an outcry by residents.

Residents wishing to have their say on the council’s financial plans can do so online at fareham.gov.uk/have_your_say/balancingthebooks

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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