County's council tax bills to rise next year

REFORM'S MAY ELECTION MANIFESTO HAD PLEDGED A REDUCTION

- By HANNAH RICHARDSON

REVENUE AND SPENDING: Coun Dan Harrison. Below, Couns Deborah Taylor and Michael Mullaney

COUNCIL tax for Leicestershire residents is expected to rise in April, Reform UK says, reversing a manifesto pledge.

The party, which took control of Leicestershire County Council in May, pledged in the run-up to the election to “deliver for local people” by lowering the tax.

Last month, leader Dan Harrison told a Scrutiny Commission meeting lower taxes and no service cuts were possible and that he was aiming to do that in the coming year's budget.

Other Reform-led councils across the country have also said they expect to put up council tax, including Derbyshire and Warwickshire county councils.