Cheshire East is proposing to increase spending on services by more than £16m in 2022/23 and is looking for an £11.8m increase in council tax to help fund it.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (budget), will be voted on at full council on Thursday (February 24).

If approved, Cheshire East's share of the council tax bill for a Band D property will rise by 2.99 per cent to £1,626.24. A report due to go before Thursday's meeting of the full council states the local authority proposes to increase overall net revenue spending on services by £16.6m to £327.7m in 2022/23. The largest share of the cash will be spent on the council's adults department, which includes social care and public health. This will get £120.8m. The report states: "Central Government un-ring fenced grants will increase by £4.8m overall to £24m. Funding from council tax will need to increase by £11.8m, to £254.7m. "To provide this essential funding for local services it will require a proposed council tax increase of 2.99 per cent from £1,579.03 to £1,626.24 for a Band D property." Of that 2.99 per cent council tax increase, one per cent is ring-fenced for adult social care. Cheshire East says those hardest hit by the spiralling cost of living will benefit from the changes to the council tax support scheme. "In response to concerns over cost of living increase, the council tax support scheme has improved to protect families on low incomes from council tax increases," states the report. "Residents in the lowest income bands will see support increase from 75 per cent to 80 per cent, those on the lowest incomes, and in receipt of specified benefits, can receive 100 per cent rebates. "The estimated cost to the council is £1.4m in 2022/23, funded from Local Council Tax Support grant which was deliberately set aside for this purpose." According to the report, capital spending is forecast at £633.7m for the period 2022/23 to 2025/26, including £19m on improving the highways network. The council's general reserves will remain at £11.5m.