The average Council Tax bill in the Forest is set to pass £2,000 after district councillors approved a 2.65 per cent increase for the next financial year.

The Forest Council approved its budget proposals for 2022/23 at a meeting last Thursday (February 17), which included setting an annual council tax bill of £194.03 for a Band D property - an increase of £5 from last year.

Together with recently agreed increases from Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), the bill for Foresters in Band D will total £2,016.

Homes are divided into eight bands, with Band A being two thirds of Band D and Band H twice the average.

County councillors agreed a 2.99 per cent increase last Wednesday (February 16), meaning people in a Band D property will pay £1,451.36 from April - an increase of £42.14 from last year.

A 3.7 per cent rise in the police budget will mean a Council Tax bill of £280.08 at Band D.

The Band D figure for town and parish councils ranges from zero in Oxenhall to £197.31 in Lydney.

The highest bill for a village parish is £114.48 at Staunton near Coleford.

District council cabinet member for Finance, Councillor Richard Leppington (The Progressive Independents, Bream), says the tax increase comes amid “ongoing uncertainty” surrounding Government funding for local authorities.

He said financial pressure on the council has increased further this year due to rising inflation and increased service costs during the pandemic.

The authority is still projected to have a major funding gap to resolve, combined with managing serious financial risks.

In a statement, Cllr Leppington said: “Despite these pressures we remain confident that we can continue to deliver the high quality services that you have come to expect from your District Council.

“We are confident that we can continue to help make the Forest of Dean an even better place to live, learn, do business and enjoy.”

The council says its overriding financial strategy remains to drive down costs whilst maximising opportunities for additional ongoing revenue income.

Cllr Leppington says the cabinet have worked hard to make the council’s services more efficient, with savings of more than £240,000 expected this year, alongside increasing revenue from commercial operations.

He said the council will not need to use its reserves to set a balanced budget thanks to this strategy.

He added that a hardship fund has also been created, with 10 per cent reserved to support those most significantly affected.

“It is always a difficult decision when it comes to setting the bill for our council tax, and with the savings we have made we are able to keep the rise in cost as low as possible. Despite this, we understand that the rise in price may be challenging to some residents,” he explained.

“If you need support with your Council Tax bill please visit our website or call our customer services team to see if you are eligible for our Council Tax Support scheme.”

Leader of the Council Cllr Paul Hiett (The Progressive Independents, Bream) said the budget was ambitious and progressive and would take the Forest forward.

“We are not looking to sit on our hands. We are not looking to stand still. We should aspire to take the Forest forward and this budget does that.”

The council voted to approve the budget proposals by 32 votes to one abstention.