Council tax in Wakefield set to increase to boost public services and Covid recovery effort

Council tax will increase by 1.99 per and an adult social care precept of 2 per cent is being proposed The total increase 3.99 per cent

Wakefield Council’s leadership is proposing a budget intended to protect vulnerable people and help the recovery effort. Coun Denise Jeffery said: “Now more than ever we need to support our residents and our businesses. Despite the significant financial challenges, it is not a time for cuts to services.”

To support the district’s high streets, proposals have been put forward that would see the first two hours’ of car parking become free.

A £3m fund would support the council’s continuing response to the pandemic through to March 2022, includinge hardship support.

Investment of £8.9m is proposed for frontline services to protect the vulnerable, including £1.5m for support for the homeless and £5.4m in adult social care.

A public consultation will then be launched on Tuesday, January 12 at www.wakefield.gov.uk/budget. Paper copies will be available on request by emailing [email protected]