Gloucestershire County council approves 5 per cent tax rise
The council has approved its budget for the upcoming financial year.
Gloucestershire households face further rising bills from April as Shire Hall approves a five per cent tax hike.
Gloucestershire County Council approved today (February 21) its budget for the upcoming financial year which will pay for public services such as libraries, social care and road works during 2024/25.
The general fund revenue budget totals more than £616 million – an increase of £50m on last year.
This is based on an increase of 4.99 per cent which is made up of 2.99 per cent general council tax rise and two per cent adult social care precept increase.
The budget will see the portion of the tax bill which goes towards County Council services rise by £76.04 to £1,599.82 for band D properties – the final total bill will be higher as it will include district and police and parish councils.
Finance and change cabinet member Lynden Stowe (C, Campden-Vale) thanked members across the chamber for their input in helping them fine tune the details.
He also thanked the public and stakeholders for taking the time to respond to the consultation and the county’s MPs for lobbying for more funding.
“A year ago I said central government a pragmatic, even generous, settlement,” he said.
“When first presenting this year’s budget in cabinet I said it had been tight.
“However, the additional funding announcement two weeks ago of £5.2m to this authority does mean we are once again able to put a budget to day that enables us to deliver our core services.”
He said he reluctantly asked to increase council tax but explained it would help resurface 156 roads next year and the council will receive £2.2m in funding to improve bus services and provide three new Robin bookable bus services in South Cotswolds, North Tewkesbury and Berkeley Vale.
Cllr Stowe also said the £15.1m in income generated from electricity from the waste energy plant at Javelin Park was a huge boost.
“It was the right decision,” he said.
“And one that helps them continue their core services while other councils impose large scale service cuts.”
He told the chamber that an extra £500,000 would be spent to procure two specialist machines to fix potholes. “Now is the time to make that investment,” he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Ben Evans (LD, Churchdown) said the Tories were disconnected from reality. And that it was an “unambitious make do” budget.
“It’s not really their group’s fault,” he said.
“They’ve been hopelessly let down by the Conservative Government centrally.”
He said the purchase of pothole fixing machines was a gimmick as they had overseen 19 years of Conservatives ruining the county’s roads.
His group brought forward some minor amendments which were accepted apart from one to set up a £1m capital reserve for foster carers to improve their homes to take in more children.
The approved amendments included an increase in funding to public rights of way, flooding scheme in Lydney, freeze on street parking.
Labour group leader John Bloxsom (L, Rodborough) said the Government “gives with one hand and takes with the other” and councils get the blame.
He said he was disappointed that the council’s resources had suffered a 66 per cent reduction in real terms yet council tax had risen year on year.
“It’s a complete flip in the way the council is funded and that is to the detriment of council tax payers,” he said.
His group was successful in getting an amendment to increase youth service funding of £159,000 to provide £3,000 per division for youth projects and organisations who work or support young people.
But a one off investment of £80,000 on parking review improvement was rejected.
Councillor Cate Cody (G, Tewkesbury) proposed £300,000 for natural flood alleviation scheme, £16,000 for community libraries uplift and free bus travel for veterans. And her seconder Cllr Chloe Turner (G, Minchinhampton) said her group was largely supportive of it.
Independent Conservative Alastair Chambers (IC, Coney Hill and Matson) proposed an amendment to increase highway safety for children such as speed reduction measures near schools.
This was seconded by Council leader Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley).
The council’s capital programme totals £503.7m. The main investment relates to £301.9m for economy, environment and infrastructure, £82.9m for schools and facilities for children, £8.8m for corporate resources and £18m for adult social care and £11.2m for the fire and rescue service.
Councillors voted to approve the budget by 30 votes in favour with 19 abstentions.