RESIDENTS in Wyre Forest face a first hike in their council tax bills for four years as the authority sets out its financial plans for the next three years.

Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet has unveiled its budget proposals from 2015/16 including a 1.94 per cent increase in council tax – more than the current rate of inflation of 1.3 per cent.

Bills for taxpayers in the district have been frozen for the past three years.

The proposals also set out a number of increases in charges for services including the cost of burials and cremations, hiring venues and putting on outdoor events.

Cabinet chiefs are also planning to continue providing investment for initiatives such as funding the town centres manager position and the community leadership fund, which gives district councillors a £1,000 budget to support local groups.

Under the plans, the council’s net revenue budget – funding for all services it provides – will rise from the current £12.9m to £13.3m in 2015/16. This would fall back to £12.9m by 2017/18.

Councillor Nathan Desmond, Cabinet Member for Resources and Transformation, said: “The budget strategy is a tribute to the hard work of staff and councillors in reducing costs and increasing income.

“In the four years between 2011/12 and the current year, that hard work has meant Wyre Forest has increased its share of the council tax by less than 2%, which is well below the rate of inflation over that period and therefore represents a real terms decrease.

“This has benefitted local residents at a time when household income has been under pressure.”

Council leader Marcus Hart said: “The Cabinet has demonstrated that its strategic approach has delivered significant benefits for local people and businesses, while maintaining a strong record of financial prudence. The budget strategy continues the balanced approach we have been taking to reduce costs through internal efficiency measures while growing income from sources other than council tax and Government grants.

“We have successfully grown income in 2014/15 in line with the medium term financial strategy. We have already achieved a number of successes including extra green and bulky waste collection income, extra income from the Town Hall and for Arts and Events and the higher property lease income.

“As part of the proposals, we will introduce some new fees and charges and continue to take advantage of commercial opportunities, in order to help protect the services that local communities value.”

The proposals will be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday (December 16) while a public consultation will be run in the latter part of January.

Cabinet will finalise its recommendations to Council on February 17 before a final decision is taken on February 25.