Have Your Say On Central Bedfordshire Council Spending Plans, Savings And Council Tax
Have Your Say On Central Bedfordshire Council Spending Plans, Savings And Council Tax
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Protecting and maintaining vital frontline services is at heart of the council’s proposals for this year. It is planning to spend £196million on the services that are used directly by local residents. Almost two-thirds of this sum will be spent on supporting and protecting vulnerable adults and children, with the rest of the funding being dedicated to things that benefit the whole community such as transport, bin collections, recycling, libraries and leisure.
However, the council is looking to deliver its spending plans in the context of reducing Government funding, some economic uncertainties in the face of the Brexit debate and increasing demand for care services.
The rising demands are the result of various developments such as medical advancements meaning our residents are living longer and greater recognition of the needs of both children and adults with learning disabilities or special educational needs.
Historically, local councils received more money from Government to deliver local services but now there is an expectation that council tax will be increased to pay towards the increasing costs of doing so.
To help bridge the gap between the funding the council needs and the income it expects the council has a plan to:
- continue to find ways to reduce spending by £14.8million through a range of saving measures and
- increase council tax by 1% to contribute towards funding services.
Councillor Richard Wenham, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, said: “We want to deliver good value for money for council tax payers whilst both protecting vital frontline services and investing more in the services that residents have told us are important to them. To achieve this, we are proposing to increase council tax by 1% from next April. This would work out as an extra 29p per week for an average (Band D) household.
“However, we’re also asking residents their views about the possibility of a 2% increase which would work out as 58p extra a week. This isn’t what we are planning for but if residents supported this it would enable the council to invest even more in local services.
“Residents can also give their views on a range of measures to save money. In total these would deliver an extra £14.8million which is on top of the £135million we have already saved since 2009.
“Such measures include seeking better deals from our suppliers; reorganising some services and getting involved as soon as possible with children, families or adults who are vulnerable – by working with people early we can help them avoid needing more support in the long term, which saves us money.
“Councillors are also considering investing almost £94million in capital projects next year from external and council funding and I would urge everyone who lives here to get involved in this consultation and have their say.
“Projects being proposed across Central Bedfordshire include new school buildings, replacing care homes with modern facilities, improving existing roads and building new ones.”
To have your say on the council’s spending plans, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/budget2019, or pick up a paper copy of the consultation summary and questionnaire at council offices in Dunstable and Chicksands or one of our libraries.
The closing date is 5pm, 29th January 2019.
Councillors then consider all responses before the final budget is approved by Council at a meeting on 21st February 2019.
Have Your Say On Central Bedfordshire Council Spending Plans, Savings And Council Tax
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Have Your Say On Central Bedfordshire Council Spending Plans, Savings And Council Tax
Have Your Say On Central Bedfordshire Council Spending Plans, Savings And Council Tax