Council Tax and support for residents

Rutland County Council is being asked by Cabinet to approve an increase in Council Tax of 4.99%. This is 2% for Adult Social Care and 2.99% for the main council tax.

Given the concern expressed by many residents regarding the cost of living crisis and the severe impact it is having on their personal household budgets, we felt it only appropriate to scrutinise the proposed increases very carefully.

We have worked tirelessly to see where any reductions can be made in the budget, and we have identified several items which we feel can be reduced. The details of this can be seen on our website www.together4rutland.org/budget shortly.

We are proposing that the Council varies its approach to support those in need but who are not claiming Local Council Tax Support. We would like the Council to approve an additional £20,000 to support those residents who are currently struggling to meet their Council Tax Payments.

Together4Rutland wish to propose an amendment at the meeting for the Council Tax Rise to be capped at 3%,  made up of 2% for Adult Social Care and 1% for the main council tax.

However, we cannot do this on our own. The fate of Rutland Residents is in your hands – Please contact your ward member to discuss the various options open to the council.

Catmose Sports Centre – Fitness Facility

T4R as a group are fully aware of the depth of feeling surrounding the decision by Cabinet to close the Catmose leisure centre and the lack of consideration given to the many individual users of the Centre as well as the 17 organised groups that use it on a regular basis.

Through the Scrutiny process, where members of the Council consider proposed actions of the Cabinet and Officers, a cross-party group has been involved in reviewing the options and were presented with the alternatives. Originally in April 2022, Scrutiny recommended a cost-neutral solution position which has been the basis of the contract with the existing provider, Stevenage Leisure. The options for a new leisure contract were further reviewed in December 2022. Unfortunately, the recommendations from Scrutiny to Cabinet at that time are treated as exempt, in other words, cannot be disclosed for commercial reasons but were reported in the papers for the Cabinet meeting in January 2023, at which the decision to close the facility was decided. What we can say, based on the recommendation made, the decision was not in line with the December recommendations, and no reasons have been provided as to why the recommendations were ignored.

As a Group, we recognise the depth of feeling and know that a leisure facility is essential for health, well-being and for the young people in our community. It is also essential for GP referrals, and in a town with dwindling activities for young people, this will create a huge hole.

We have to put residents first. We are without doubt in difficult times, but having seen the options, we strongly feel there was an alternative solution which could have been seriously considered, but we are unable to explain why due to the confidential nature of the information.