East Devon District Council agrees to £5 increase to council tax bill

Residents in East Devon will pay an additional £5 council tax a year from April, the district council has confirmed.

The increase was approved at East Devon District Council's full council meeting on Wednesday. The additional charge means that the average Band D household will pay just over £160 pounds a year.

Other elements that make up the total council tax bill are also going up: parish and town councils, Devon County Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue.

Households in East Devon will pay an extra five per cent this coming financial year for the district council element.

Cllr Jack Rowland (Independent East Devon Alliance, Seaton) praised council officers for the "superb work they've done in producing a balanced budget under probably the most difficult situation that's faced this council certainly during my time of being a member".

"It goes without saying that over the last decade, in real terms, East Devon Council has lost over £50 million in support from central government," he said.

"So, bearing in mind the current inflationary pressures and the fact that we're not increasing any charges in this coming financial year, I welcome the fact that we've produced a balanced budget which is being increased by 3.19 per cent – £5 per year – which for the average Band D rate payer, they'll still be paying just over £3 per month for the services provided.

"And we haven't cut any services whatsoever at the moment."

Conservative leader Cllr Philip Skinner (Tale Vale) also praised council officers for their work in producing a balanced budget for 2023-24.

He commented: "I want to say how much we appreciate the work that has been done by our officers in achieving a balanced budget under the current economic climate," he said.

"A council is measured by the way in which it delivers front-line services. We are all proud and grateful to our amazing StreetScene team for the work they have done and still do in recycling, grounds maintenance and all of those other jobs which are frequently neither seen nor heard."