BAND D householders in Cheshire East look set to pay an average £2,217.19 in council tax for the 2024/25 financial year.

Cheshire East is expected to approve a 4.99 per cent hike in its share of the tax at its budget meeting on Tuesday (February 27).

Of that 4.99 per cent, two per cent is ring-fenced for adult social care as has happened in previous years.

This will take the Cheshire East portion of the bill from £1,707.39 to £1,792.59 a year for a band D property.

The Cheshire Police precept will also rise by 4.99 per cent, adding an extra £12.50 to the annual bill for a band D property.

This takes the annual police precept for a band D property to £262.94.

And Cheshire Fire Authority last week approved a 2.99 per cent increase to its precept taking it to £90.09 a year.

This takes the total to £2,145.62 for a band D property for the borough council, police and fire service.

The extra £71.57 to be added, is an average for the annual council tax precept levied by town and parish councils and this varies depending on where you live.

According to figures produced by Cheshire East, once the town council precepts are added, a band D householder in Alsager will pay £2,252.81; in Congleton, £2,251.11; in Crewe, £2,237.96; in Knutsford, £2,265.55; in Macclesfield, £2,210.18; in Middlewich, £2,266.44; in Nantwich, £2,296 and in Sandbach, £2,232.46.

Cheshire East Council is facing a £13.1m overspend this year.

"The 2023/24 budget was blown off course by inflation running at more than 10 per cent and the unexpected rise in demand in adults and children social care" - Cllr Sam Corcoran.

Council leader Sam Corcoran (Lab) told the corporate policy committee last week: "The 2023/24 budget was blown off course by inflation running at more than 10 per cent and the unexpected rise in demand in adults and children social care."

He said social care makes up more than two thirds of the council's budget.

Measures proposed to help balance the books for 2024/25 include emergency tip closures and parking charge increases.