Councillors say they have a glimmer of hope in their request for central government to offset the large cost of drainage boards on the area.
The latest draft of South Holland District Council’s budget for the 2023/24 financial year states the internal drainage boards in the area have asked for between nine and 26 percent more than last year amid rising costs.
It means 55 per cent of the district council’s share of the council tax, £3.16 million, will go to the drainage boards in the next financial year.
That’s an increase of £332,000 over last year and £540,000 in two years.
The South Holland Drainage Board cost has risen to £231,000 while the Welland and Deepings is £196,000.
Council leader Gary Porter called it a “doom and gloom” budget but said there had been indications of central government help after recent meetings between council leaders and MPs.
“If there is any support, and it’s a big if, my bet would be it would only be for one year while the government looks at what it can do to make it sustainable going forward,” he said in response to a question from Coun Allan Beal. “But, it’s a big if.
“While the meetings we’ve had have been positive, nobody’s said the cheque book’s just sitting over there, all we need to do is put a signature on it.
“We’re all hoping this time, but we’re still not hopeful it will come off.”
Portfolio holder for finance Peter Coupland said: “We’ve made significant representations to government on this issue.
“Following our lead there was an MPs’ meeting a few weeks ago and last week.
“We await their further response to concerns we have raised as part of the budget consultation process.
“For this budget we’ve included the full amounts the IDB is asking for.
“We continue to work closely and are hugely supportive of them and other affected councils who have approached us on this matter.
“The momentum behind these IDB levies to be billed in a different manner is building up, not just with our partner councils but with other districts as well.
“That £540,000 increase in two years is imbedded in our budget and with the constraint of the referendum limit we sit on, we have no choice but to recommend a £5.76 increase in council tax for a Band D property, this will raise £275,000 towards the £3.1m levy we have.
“With the majority of our residents being in a lower band it will be a lower increase for many.
“We wish to support and drive growth in our area and have created a budget to achieve this.”
Coun Porter said of the council tax rise: “For a band A property it equates to 8p a week or 11p for a band D.
“While it’s bad news as it’s going in a upward trajectory, it’s not an amount that’s going to tip a household over.
“It would be nice to get money back out of the drainage boards as that leads to money back into our bank account.”
* A total of £1.3m has been allocated in South Holland District Council’s budget for new vehicles for the environmental health teams.
The sum has been added to the capital programme and is to help replace and service some of the 28 vehicles, including bin lorries.
“It’s for new wagons which can cost around £175,000 and other vehicles the Environmental Waste team need for collecting,” said Coun Peter Coupland. “You have to pre-order them to suit the authority and they can take a year to 18 months to arrive.”
