The full impact of the local government funding settlement is beginning to hit home, as councils assess their budgets for next year. The Comprehensive Spending Review, which will bring little extra to local authority grants, means significant increases in council tax are now inevitable. Westminster City Council warned cuts to the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive, the minimum increase to the grant from central government and increased migrant numbers could lead to a large increase in council tax. Cabinet finance member, Cllr Colin Farrow, said: ‘All the signs are pointing to the lowest government increase for a decade. This is despite increasing pressure on our services. West Lancashire DC is also currently assessing its budget prospects for next year. For the last four years, the council has pegged council tax rises to the rate of inflation but is now looking at tough efficiency savings. Cllr Adrian Owens said: ‘We are now assessing our financial position with the aim of ensuring that any council tax rises next year are kept to a minimum, even though we face rising fuel and pension costs.'
