Daily Telegraph describes Rutland as ‘the wealthy county with the highest council tax in Britain’
In an article published by the Daily Telegraph this week, Money writer Maya Wilson Autzen and Senior Data Journalist Ollie Corfe described Rutland as 'the wealthy county with the highest council tax in Britain.'
The article outlined important parts of life in Rutland and Oakham, including a strong sense of community and identity, saying: 'Rutland is often described as one of the healthiest, happiest places to live in Britain. But it comes at a high cost.'
According Wilson Autzen and Corfe, bills in Rutland could rise by nearly £600 under the current Labour government, saying 'if Rutland continues to raise council tax by the maximum amount each year, households' average bills would increase by £576 by 2030 to £3,247.'
The article also describes Rutland County Council as 'one of the best-run councils in the country' - a statement many local residents will disagree.
Last year, the Lib-Dem County Council announced it was in a £46.6 million deficit and on-going issues with funding education, SEN, public transport, libraries and community sports has left a sour taste in residents' mouths. This could be due to the Council often being under-funded by the Government, relying more on council tax than the national average.
For example, local people still resent the closure of Catmose Leisure Centre, leaving Oakham with few sports facilities.
Perhaps The Telegraph's description of Rutland is accurate, saying: 'As bills climb and public services crumble, once-proud 'Rutlanders' grow resentful.'
Rutland has a proud history, heritage and sense of community but the ever-increasing demand for Council Tax, paired with the decrease in funding for local services, is making it harder and harder for local people to maintain their positivity about living in the area, with many people unsure if they will be able to afford to stay in the future.
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