Gloucestershire Council budget approved
It includes a council tax rise
Last updated 16th Feb 2023
The budget for Gloucestershire Council for the 2023-2024 has been approved, and it includes a council tax rise.
In a full council meeting, they have approved a £567 million budget for the next year. As part of that, funding worth £119 million has been agreed to complete exciting infrastructure projects such as the Gloucester South-West Bypass, Arle Court Transport Hub, various flood alleviation schemes.
But the council has also confirmed that there will be a council tax increase of 4.99% - the maximum allowed by local authorities. That will be made up of 2.99% general council tax, whilst the social care precept will rise by 2%. That means for someone in a Band D home, they will be paying approximately an extra £72.48 a year.
The council will also be looking to make some cuts, and has found £32 million worth of potential savings over the next year.
Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, says, “Like most households, we have challenged ourselves on how we can be more efficient to make the money go further for the year ahead and we have already identified £32 million of savings.
“We know this comes at a time when every household’s purse is being squeezed. It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but to go on delivering for every resident in Gloucestershire, it is a necessary one.”
The increase will come in from April.