Residents across Bath and North East Somerset are being asked whether they would support a rise in Council Tax to help prevent further cuts to services and to meet the needs of vulnerable residents.

It follows a series of public webinars in December in which Council leaders outlined the financial challenges faced by the authority together with their proposals to balance the books for 2021/22 – while investing to improve people’s lives and deliver the Council’s priorities.

The Council faces significant financial pressures in 2021/22 with the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to have a big impact on its finances. As a result, the Council has identified a predicted budget shortfall of £11.61 m.

Councillor Richard Samuel, cabinet member for Resources said: “Covid-19 has hit our finances hard and continues to do so.

Although we will be calling on the Government for additional financial support we can’t rely on getting it, so we need to think differently.

“We must to continue to deliver frontline services, but we will have to make savings and we face hard choices about how we prioritise our spending.

“Our work to improve people’s lives and deliver our priorities includes creating better, greener spaces through liveable neighbourhoods, investing in our High Streets to support retail, tackling the climate and ecological emergency, protecting adult and children’s services and tackling inequalities. To achieve our aims, prevent further service cuts we’ll need to draw on our reserves and increase Council Tax.

“We appreciate that its been a difficult year for everyone, which is why we’re asking residents whether they would support a rise in Council Tax bills.”

Residents are being asked:

• Are you in support of a general Council Tax increase of up to 2 per cent to help prevent further service cuts?

• Are you in support of an Adult Social Care precept on Council Tax to meet the needs of our vulnerable residents?

Residents are asked to share their views online or alternatively send their responses via email to: [email protected]. All comments must be received by Wednesday, 20th January.