Households across the High Peak will pay around £5 more a year for the borough council element of council tax, after councillors agreed an £11.8 million budget for the coming year.

At a meeting of High Peak Borough Council, members agreed a 2.5 per cent rise, which means Band D payments will be £205.40 for 2022/23.

As more than 70 per cent of High Peak residents live in properties in Bands A, B or C, the average increase will be less than £5.

Tuesday’s meeting in Buxton also saw the rent increase for Council tenants capped at 1.6 per cent - in recognition of the rise in fuel and the cost of living generally.

Councillor Alan Barrow, Executive Councillor for Finance and Corporate Services, said when setting the increases, they are always mindful of what it means for residents and aim to keep them as low as possible.

“That’s more important than ever now. The increasing cost of fuel and other living expenses is a concern which affects us all and none of us have escaped the impact Covid has had on our home and working lives over the last two years.”

Cllr Barrow said public services have been more important than ever during the pandemic and that will only continue.

“It’s with all that in mind that we’ve agreed our budget for the next 12 months,” he explained.

“People across the High Peak have a right to expect us to deliver high quality services and they can be assured that we will continue to take a pro-active approach to making sure we use all our resources efficiently and to best effect in delivering responsive and supportive public services to all our communities.”

HPBC collects Council Tax on behalf of the County Council, Police and Fire Authorities and town and parish councils and receives 10 per cent of the overall total.

The borough council uses this funding to provide affordable housing, waste and recycling, street cleaning, leisure centres, parks and playgrounds development and maintenance, support for local businesses, crime prevention activities, benefits services, and elections.

More information about Council Tax is available at www.highpeak.gov.uk/counciltax 

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