Members of Maldon District Council have warned cuts to services may still be needed in future years, as they voted to increase its share of council tax.

Residents in the Maldon district will pay the council £218.75 for a Band D property, up 2.99 per cent from the previous financial year.

Council leader Penny Channer (Con, Mayland) said at a budget meeting on Wednesday (February 22) that the rise was "well below" inflation and is part of an overall strategy which has avoided cuts.

She said: "The financial year of 2022 to 2023 will be remembered first and foremost for the cost of living crisis that the country has faced.

"Like all individuals and institutions, this council has been impacted by increased costs which put pressure on the council budget and will also impact on future years.

"That has, however, not stopped the council from continuing to deliver on the programme of work that I set out in my speech last year and of which this council, its members and officers can be rightly proud."

In a "do-nothing" scenario, the council would be faced with a £3,507,000 gap in its finances by 2024 to 2025, according to an officer's report.

Councillor Mark Durham (Con, Wickham Bishops and Woodham) said: "I'm not really worried about this year's budget, I'm worried about the ever-increasing gap that is going to be facing us."

He later said: "I'm really concerned and it's an appeal to the next members in this chamber, in actual fact, are going to have to sit down and look long and hard at their costs and we are going to have to make cuts, we are going to have to be realistic."

Opposition leader Councillor Richard Siddall (Independent Group, Great Totham) said the council had no guiding strategy and has been experiencing problems with a lack of resources and staff.

He said: "Over the past year, the council seems to have been adrift, with no defined strategy coming from those administering the council, creating a void."

He later said: "We need to ensure that in future our resources are clearly connected to strategy and that we can deliver in a measured and sustainable way. Based on the record of the Conservatives in the past few years I have no faith in them delivering them that and I hope the electorate can see that as well."

This comes after Essex County Council voted earlier this month to increase its share of council tax by £49.05 next year for a Band D property.

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