Residents have accused Wiltshire Council of presenting “misleading” information on their council tax bills.

Concerns have been raised about the way in which tax percentage rises have been represented on the documents sent to residents.

The bills indicate a 3 per cent increase for the Wiltshire Council section of the bill and a 2 per cent increase for the adult social care levy.

However, some residents have claimed these percentage figures show a lack of transparency, as the percentage increase of 2 per cent has been applied to the combined main precept plus the social care levy.

The residents argue that, when considering the social care levy alone, the percentage increase is in fact 15.2 per cent.

Wiltshire Council has clarified that the information included in council tax bills and the way they are set out is dictated by government legislation.

In February, the council voted to approve a council tax rise of 4.99 per cent, which is the maximum amount permitted by central government.

This amount is equivalent to an increase of £1.65 per week for people living in a Band D property.

Andy Brown, Corporate Director for Resources said, “Wiltshire Council is the billing authority for council tax and collects council tax on behalf of the fire authority, the police, town and parish councils and Wiltshire Council, who are all known as precepting authorities.

“Each precept has to be shown on separately on the bill, however the Wiltshire Council precept is made up of two parts, the main precept and the Adult Social Care levy. 

“The legislation states we must show what part of the overall bill is for the precept, and what part is for the Adult Social Care Levy.

“Since 2015 English councils have been given the power to increase council tax to pay for social care services for adults.

“These are services which help people with physical or learning disabilities or mental health needs carry out their daily routines. 

“The Government determines the rules regarding how much the levy and the main precept can rise each year. 

“For the current financial year any increase in the levy is limited to 2% whilst the main precept can rise by 2.99%.

“Wiltshire Council like most other billing authorities has chosen to add the 2% precept to the Adult social Care Levy for 2024/25.

“What this does not mean is that the part of the council tax bill going towards adult social care has increased by 2% compared to last year.

“It is not the levy that has gone up by 2% for social care, but the combined element (made up of the main precept plus the Adult Social Care levy).

“The Council has calculated what 2% of that is and then adds that to the Adult Social Care Levy for this financial year. 

“A subsequent calculation is made for Wiltshire Council’s main precept and the bill demonstrates that a further 2.99% has been added to the sum of the combined precept and levy due to Wiltshire Council in the previous year.”

One of the concerned residents, Mr Robin Williams, argued: “The way the tax bill is presented makes the lower percentage figure purport to relate directly to that item of the bill which is very misleading indeed.

“I believe this is another example of the Government insisting on using figures to mislead voters into the real increase we are paying at this time of financial hardship for many.”

He concluded: “Can we trust any Government figures l ask?”