How much are Ipswich council tax bills going up this year?

Ipswich Borough Council leader Neil MacDonald <i>(Image: Newsquest)</i>
Ipswich Borough Council leader Neil MacDonald (Image: Newsquest)
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Council tax bills for band B properties in Ipswich are set to rise by just over £81 in April after all the authorities decided to go for the maximum rise.

Although Ipswich Borough Council sends out the bills, the vast majority of the money collected goes straight to the county council and a significant amount to the office of the police and crime commissioner, Tim Passmore.

Suffolk's share will be going up by just under £61 and the borough and police and crime commissioner will be putting up their shares by about £9.50 and £10.50 a year respectively.

Although the government classes band D as the "average" figure, band B homes are by far the most numerous houses in Ipswich and most other districts in Suffolk.

Ipswich council leader Neil MacDonald said there would still need to be some changes at the authority - but they had already been announced late last year.

These include charging extra for parking near Portman Road on Ipswich Town home matchdays and closing Christchurch Mansion on more weekdays. 

But he said there would be no further changes to be announced when the council considers its plans later this month.

He said: "We are still able to offer £3million towards the restoration of Broomhill Lido and are going ahead with a major refurbishment of the Ipswich Regent later this year."

This could be one of the last budgets set by the borough in its present form - it is one of the councils hoping to take part in the major reorganisation of local government in Suffolk and Norfolk.

The authorities are still waiting to hear when this may go ahead from the government and an announcement is expected some time this week.

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