Is The Hartlepool Labour Group Set to Break Its Major Local Election Promise?
- teessidetoday
- Jan 13
- 3 min read
Speculations mounting over whether the Hartlepool Labour Group in charge of Hartlepool Borough Council could be getting set to break its election promise to locals, as a near 5% council tax increase could be on the horizon ....
13th Jan 2025
Hartlepool Borough Councils Finance and Policy Committee prepares to meet next week in whats said to be an impending storm brewing over the council's budgetary strategy.
The spotlight's now said to be shone firmly upon the now Labour-Dominated council, which appears poised to approve a near 5% council tax hike for 2025/26. The decision would not only impact local residents, but also challenge the Labour Group’s previous election pledge of not increasing council tax, despite years of opposing such increases whilst in opposition.
The Background
The Councils Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) report for 2025/26 to 2027/28 reveals a bleak financial landscape for the council. Despite additional government grants reportedly coming to the rescue, Hartlepool Borough Council reportedly now faces significant funding pressures, driven by spiralling costs in social care, waste management, and inflationary pay increases.
According to the report, its claimed 55% of the funding increase needed nationally must come from council tax and the Adult Social Care precept, pushing most of the financial burden onto already stretched town households.
Hartlepool Borough Council, by law is allowed to increase council tax by 3%, with an additional 2% for the Adult Social Care precept, without triggering a referendum. And whilst government support has cushioned some of the impact, its claimed Hartlepool’s reliance on council tax as a core revenue source remains a prevalent issue.
The Implications of a potential 5% Increase
For residents already grappling with cost-of-living challenges, such as increasing utility prices, fuel & food prices, a 5% rise in council tax represents a significant burden. The Hartlepool Labour Group's promises not to increase council tax played a significant role in their electoral appeal last year, but the growing deficit and financial pressures appear to have made this promise almost completely untenable, putting the local political group on a collision course with voters who are already reeling from the national governments bid to strip vulnerable pensioners of their winter fuel payments.
The MTFS outlines an eyewatering £7.079 million funding gap for 2025/26, with a portion of this expected to be covered by the increase in government grant settlement made in December 2024. Whilst the council argues this is necessary to maintain essential services, critics are likely to question whether sufficient cost-saving measures have been implemented to justify such a substantial rise.
The Final Betrayal....
Breaking a key election promise risks eroding what little public trust is left in the Labour Party in Hartlepool, especially in a town where financial decisions are ever more closely scrutinised. The Labour Group may face considerable backlash from opposition parties such as the Conservatives & Reform UK and residents alike, who could view this as the final betrayal of campaign assurances.
Questions to Be Answered
As the Finance and Policy Committee meets next week, the following questions loom large:
Will the council now adopt the maximum tax increase of 5%, or will it explore alternative solutions to plug the deficit?
How will Labour justify this potential U-turn to the voters who trusted their pledge?
Could this decision impact the Labour Group's political future in Hartlepool?
This meeting could mark a pivotal moment for Hartlepool's political and financial trajectory. Will Hartlepool Labour stand by its pledge, or will the realities of governance force their hand?
Will The Hartlepool Labour Group break its election pledge & raise Council Tax Bills for Hartlepool Borough Council ?
YES
NO
