The budget for the next financial year, April 2025 to March 2026, was approved by councillors at a Full Council meeting in Letchworth last week.

The budget includes:

• An extra £30k for Area Forums to support more local projects.
• Expanding the NHDC Environmental Health team to provide additional food safety visits, air quality and water testing, bringing empty homes back in to use and providing housing grants.
• Additional capacity to support homelessness.
• A crime prevention budget to deliver measures that will help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour from escalating.
• Continuing investment to deliver the NHDC Economic Development and Tourism Strategy,
• Continuing investment in resource to support and monitor actions to deliver the NHDC Climate Change strategy, including delivering sustainability and net zero targets.

However, in line with the majority of other district and borough councils in Hertfordshire and England, residents will see their council tax will rise by 2.99%.

This means the North Herts element of the council tax bill for a band D property will increase by £7.77, from £260.01 to £267.78.

Council tax bills will be issued to households in March and include details of how money is allocated between North Herts Council (which gets 11.6%), Hertfordshire County Council, (76.9%), Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner (11.5%) and any parish or town councils in your area.

Cllr Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council, said: "As we set our budget for the coming year, we remain focused on delivering the essential services our residents rely on while ensuring financial sustainability for the future. Like many councils, we face significant challenges due to years of previous conservative underfunding, but we are committed to making careful, responsible decisions to protect and enhance our communities.

"We are working hard to find the right balance, exploring ways to increase income and improve efficiency while safeguarding vital services. Our commitment to sustainability remains at the heart of our approach, ensuring that North Herts continues to be a great place to live and work, both now and in the future."