South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) element of the council tax levied on local households is to increase by 4.99 percent from April 2024.
The latest rise follows an identical uplift of 4.99 percent in 2023/24 and 2.99 percent in 2022/23, both of which included ring-fenced levies (2 percent in 2023/24 and 1 percent in 2022/23) to support adult social care.
The 2024/25 increase once again includes a social care levy of 2 percent.
Both component increases (2.99 percent in ‘base’ council tax and 2 percent in adult social care levy) are the maximum allowed by central government for the coming financial year without holding a local referendum.
The increase means that the South Gloucestershire Council element of council tax for a Band D property for 2024/25 will rise to £1,814.37. Added to this are precepts for the emergency services and town/parish councils, as detailed later in this article.
“Continuing challenges”
Speaking after the budget for 2024/25 had been agreed at a meeting of SGC’s Full Council on 21st February 2024, a council spokesperson said:
“The council’s budget for the coming year will prioritise investments in children’s services and cost-of-living support for those in financial difficulty, as well as taking action to help combat climate change and protect our natural environment.”
“Despite continuing challenges facing the authority, with inflation, ever-increasing costs and an ongoing shortfall in the money provided by central government that is causing pressure on councils across the country, the budget is balanced over the coming three years, assuming the current savings and income generation targets are achieved.”
“In addition to delivering statutory services, including support for adults in need of care and for schools, the council wants to ensure that those in the greatest need can receive help with the cost of living, which for many has seen costs rising much faster than incomes. The budget also recognises the need for immediate action to help alleviate and to respond to the climate and nature emergencies.”
New & increased charges
The council’s new Liberal Democrat / Labour administration has chosen to retain a target of £2 million, identified in last year’s budget, that the council needs to bring in to avoid the need to make more cuts to services.
Accordingly, a £10 administration charge will be introduced to cover the costs of a three-year Blue Badge for disabled people.
The subscription charge for the green bin/garden waste collection service will also rise, from £30 to £60 per annum, “so that it is no longer subsidised by all council taxpayers”.
A council spokesperson claimed that both of these measures will “bring South Gloucestershire into line with neighbouring authorities”.
Work is also underway to devise a scheme of parking charges in council-owned car parks.
Key investments
The budget also recognises the need for immediate action to help alleviate and to respond to the climate and nature emergencies.
Key investments agreed in the budget include:
- An additional £1,055,000 for Children’s Services to help bed in and build on the progress made that led to the Improvement Notice from Ofsted being lifted.
- Continuing Free School Meal vouchers for one week at Easter and one week of Summer, helping approximately 6,500 young people.
- Funding to provide debt and benefits advice to a further 680 complex cases, which will bring the total helped to approximately 2,000 people. This is anticipated to secure an additional £2.5m in financial outcomes for residents.
- A pilot scheme to help landlords reach the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for their properties, protecting both renters and the environment. This measure is designed to help renters save money as well as improving the environmental performance of more homes in the district.
South Gloucestershire Council Leader, Cllr Claire Young (Liberal Democrat), said:
“Our first budget as a new administration obviously comes at a very difficult time financially, but I am pleased that we have been able to make investments into vital services that local people rely upon.”
“We want to do more, and we will, but this is the first step towards securing a fairer, greener future for South Gloucestershire.”
Co-leader of the Council, Cllr Ian Boulton (Labour), added:
“We are prioritising the issues that local people have told us are important. We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of reduced funding from government in real terms and the ongoing challenges that residents are facing through rising costs.”
Breakdown of bills
In addition to the South Gloucestershire element, bills that will be coming through letterboxes in the next few days will include contributions to Avon and Somerset Police (up 4.88 percent, on top of a 5.97 percent hike last year) and Avon Fire & Rescue Service (up 2.99 percent, on top of a 6.41 percent hike last year), and the precept raised by Bradley Stoke Town Council (up 4.99 percent), producing a grand total of £2,326.75 for a Band D property, an increase of 4.89 percent over last year.
Bradley Stoke
Stoke Gifford
Percentage increases for the SGC, police and fire service elements of the tax are as for Bradley Stoke. However, the different level of parish precept in Stoke Gifford (up 4.80 percent this year) results in a grand total of £2,292.12 for a Band D property, an increase of 4.79 percent over last year.
Note: Different charges now apply in Stoke Park and Cheswick, which separated from Stoke Gifford to form a new parish following the local elections in May 2023.
More information and related links
More information about spending plans and the council tax setting process, along with a detailed explanation of how the figures are calculated, can be found in reports presented to the Meeting of Council on 21st February 2024.
- Budget 2024/25 Consultation Summary Report (SGC) [PDF; 729kB]
- South Glos council tax to rise by another 4.99 percent as annual budget agreed (South Glos Post)
- Summary of 2024/25 council tax for charges for all parishes in South Gloucestershire (SGC) [PDF; 55kB]
- Council tax explained – where your money goes (SGC)
- Financial support for residents (SGC)
Southglos council tax Kingswood go up 9% not 4.99% . Why for what reason?
As stated in the article, your total council tax bill is made up of several elements. Kingswood Town Council is now levying a precept, which means residents there have a larger overall increase in their council tax bill this year.