Council tax Bills are set to rise by 5 per cent for city residents

COUNCIL tax is set to rise by five per cent for Bristol residents for the sixth consecutive year.

- Adam POSTANS Local Democracy Reporter adam.postans@

It would mean bills for Band B households would be hiked by £85.57 from April and £110.01 for Band D.

Bristol City Council has launched its annual draft budget consultation and says the increase, comprising three per cent for ‘core’ council tax that pays for everyday services such as waste collection, libraries and road maintenance, and two per cent ring-fenced for social care, is what the government expects local authorities to charge.

It is the maximum allowed without a local referendum.

Last year the council asked residents’ views on a huge range of options for council tax rises, from zero to 15 per cent, but the government kept the threshold at five per cent and that was approved at full council in February.

This time, the authority is proposing only one option but will consider feedback from the consultation before making a decision.