This is how much council tax Teesside residents could soon have to pay

This coming week will see councillors assemble virtually to rule on how much householders will pay for services – with rises on the horizon for the majority of Teessiders. 

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But the amounts are expected to vary depending on where you live. 

Unless you’re entitled to support or exemptions, bills will include a 1.99% increase for Cleveland Police (£177.15 Band A total) and a 1.9% rise for Cleveland Fire Authority (£53.55 at Band A total). 

Small charges also apply if your area has a town or parish council.

Here’s a rundown of what’s on the cards.

Middlesbrough – up 2.75%

Bills are set to rise by 2.75% if you live within Middlesbrough’s borders.

The Government has given councils the power to add an extra 3% on council tax over the next two years to pay for adult social care. 

Chiefs have backed 0.76% of this sum to be used this year on top of the 1.99% standard increase.

It will mean those in Band A properties will pay £1,402.11 all in from April with a Band D home charged £2,103.17.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston told executive colleagues the finances at the council were in relatively good shape at the moment compared to other authorities. 

He added: “This is an exceptionally tough time for all councils.

“There are councils which have gone bust and there are others on the fringe of that.

“Middlesbrough Council is in a relatively strong position – we’re in decent shape and it’s the prudence of officers which has got us to this stage.

“But I have to warn people that our medium term solvency and to get stuff done relies on selling assets and growing our housing stock.”

The mayor said he’d had people on to him “fed up” about more housing but added the system had been set up to rely on homes and selling land. 

Mr Preston added: “Where we possibly can, we’re reducing that. 

“If we stop completely, we’ll be in an extraordinarily difficult financial situation which will be catastrophic for all kinds of services.”

Leaders backed the 2.75% increase as part of the budget – but signalled their ambition to have a council tax freeze in future years.

Votes will be cast from 7pm on Wednesday evening. 

Stockton – up 3.9%

Pressures on social care have been front and centre of the argument from Labour leaders in Stockton ahead of a vote on a 3.9% increase.

Finance officials have warned “savings” will have to be found if the increase isn’t backed as part of the borough’s longer term spending plans.

Cabinet members backed the medium term financial plan to go to the vote next Wednesday – which includes £10m extra borrowing for the country park to replace the Castlegate shopping centre and cash for Thornaby. 

The divide in Stockton will see 2% of the adult social care levy used this year on top of the base 1.9% rise.

Councillors criticised the Government for not funding social care centrally on Thursday afternoon.

Leader Cllr Bob Cook said the council had seen £73m cut from its Government settlement in the past 10 years and had imposed 1,200 redundancies in that time.

Cllr Steve Nelson accused the Government leaders of “kicking another can down the road” on social care.  

Cllr Cook added: “This Government needs to sort out how we fund social care in future.

“The Government has said they’re going to look at it but for some reason they never do.

“They did at one time but the report seemed to get buried. 

“Social care is a national thing and shouldn’t be relying on local taxpayers to pay for it – it should come out of national taxation, in our national insurance and income tax.

“That’s where it should come from – not from council taxpayers.”

All in, it will mean Band A households in the borough will pay £1,374.02 from April.

Band D homes will see a charge of £2,061.04 for the year.

The political make-up of Stockton’s chamber means it’s extraordinarily unlikely the budget won’t be backed – with a Labour minority administration of 24 councillors out of 53 sitting members at the moment. 

Support from independent group members is expected to push any Conservative amendment aside – and back the medium term financial plan and tax rise as it stands.

Budget debate will begin from 6pm in Stockton on Wednesday.

Redcar and Cleveland – up 3.99% 

Redcar and Cleveland is likely to see the highest percentage rise on Teesside when votes are cast next week. 

It will be a busy Thursday as leaders will meet in the morning to cast their eye over budget papers before all councillors cast votes in the afternoon from 2pm. 

Cabinet papers show a 3.99% increase is on the table in the borough. 

This will be made up of 2% chunk of the adult social care levy and 1.99% through standard council tax.

Outside parish areas, this will mean a £1,367.94 annual bill for Band A homes and a £2,051.92 charge in Band D properties. 

Hartlepool – frozen 0%

Hartlepool is out on its own this year – with the administration opting for a council tax freeze. 

There has already been plenty of lengthy debate about keeping bills the same in the borough this year – with argument about how much the authority would ask those on council tax support to pay. 

It will mean Band A households outside parish areas will pay £1393.58, while Band D homeowners will be charged £2,090.38 for the year.

Councillors will vote on the borough’s medium term financial plans from 6pm on Thursday.