Frontline services will not face cuts, but taxes will go up as part of the proposed new budget revealed by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council this week.

Despite the cost of living crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant savings made as part of the council's modernisation has helped to balance the books for 2023-24.

This means no impact on essential frontline services, but fees and charges, include parking, garage rental, garden waste collections and allotments, are set to be reviewed.

Despite significant inflation over the past year on, the council is proposing a council tax rise below the rate of inflation, at 2.97 per cent.

If approved, this would increase the average Band D tax to £230.76 for 2023/24, or £6.66 for the year and around 12p a week. The council also collects council tax on behalf of the county council, the police and crime commissioner and, where relevant, the town or parish council.

The next financial year is also set to see the council make a £253m capital investment in the borough, which will deliver new and affordable homes, cut their carbon footprint, continue the regeneration of Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield town centres and invest in the maintenance of council-owned homes.

“For over a decade, we have faced an increasingly tough challenge to set a balanced budget with minimal impact on our frontline services,” said councillor Stephen Boulton, executive member for planning resources.

“We have a record of achieving the majority of this by working more efficiently, and that is the case again this year.

“Alongside this, with significant investment planned in affordable and social housing, carbon reduction, our two town centres, and a new crematorium, we are delivering on priorities on which Welwyn Hatfield residents want us to focus.”

If approved at a Cabinet meeting on January 10, the 2023-24 budget proposals will be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on January 17, then a report will go to a Special Cabinet meeting on January 24 before a final decision is made by Full Council on February 1.