Majority of residents who responded are against councils proposed council tax hike.

Majority of residents who responded are against councils proposed council tax hike.

The Westmorland and Furness Council proposed increase and harmonisation of council tax across the new council area of Westmorland and Furness that replaces Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow from the 1st of April with its proposed council tax coming into effect for the 2023/24 financial year has seen 49% of respondents to its consultation so far disagree with the plans.

Cllr Andrew Jarvis, cabinet member for finance on the Westmorland and Furness shadow authority, said during the shadow authority's overview and scrutiny committee on Monday morning held at county hall in Kendal.
That, at the end of last week, more than 700 online responses had been received to the consultation that remains open until the 13th of February

The committee was told that 43% of people who had responded so far, agreed with the councils proposed rise in council tax
However 49% of the response were against the increase and seven per cent unsure.
The remaining one per cent variable is the result of the rounding of numbers used by the council.

Cllr Jarvis said “63% agreed with the harmonisation of rates across Barrow, South Lakeland and Eden.”
The new councils proposed harmonisation will see residents across Penrith and Eden face the biggest increase in Council Tax with a 5.95% increase.

Residents can still respond to the council tax increase proposal by Westmorland and Furness Council.
The proposal and consultation can be found via: https://goto.penrith.town/council-tax-consultation
The consultation is open until 13 February 2023.