Plymouth City Council agree to 'robust budget' to protect city from post-COVID fallout
It aims to address the demands on local services and deliver an 'ambitious programme of investment'
The City Council have agreed on budget plans to lead Plymouth through economic recovery.
Their aim is to keep people safe and support sound financial management whilst protecting the city from post-COVID fallout.
At the heart of the new financial plan is how the local authority will respond to the increased demand on Council services caused by the pandemic and deliver an ambitious programme of investment in the city; all whilst contending with huge reductions in core Government funding.
Whilst the post-COVID fallout is still unknown, members heard how more people than ever are accessing support from the Council. This includes over 2,760 residents who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, around 3,586 vulnerable adults needing social care support and significant increases in the number of children who are in care.
The budget aims to help address the demands on local services. The Council say they are investing:
- Over £5 million into Social Care
- An additional £0.6 million to fund costs with homelessness
- Over £3 million into Children’s Services to mitigate the increased costs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic
This is in addition to delivering the 300 high-quality day-to-day services that residents heavily rely on, including street cleansing, maintaining roads, running libraries, supporting schools and providing social care.
Council Leader, Tudor Evans, said:
"We have weathered 10 years of austerity by being innovative and ambitious in securing investment to deliver the city’s growth, which has led to a large number of big projects coming to fruition.
"We’ve found better ways of doing things, reshaped how we deliver many of our services, found new ways of generating income, joined up with our partners wherever possible and maximised the use of our assets.
"However, COVID-19 has presented new challenges that no-one could have predicted. Throughout the pandemic we have come out fighting. And where the Government have failed, we have stepped up – supporting thousands of local people and businesses.
"But that support needs to continue. We can’t stop helping vulnerable children or older adults. We have to continue to support those thousands of local people and businesses that need our help.
"Whilst at the same time we are bold in our ambitions for Plymouth. We are driven to get things moving again. To make Plymouth a better place to live, a city that is clean, green and safe. One that has great green spaces, events and a great culture.
"We must not sit on our hands and ignore the longer term impact of the pandemic. But, due to the lack of additional funding from the Government, we unfortunately have no choice but to ask residents to pay a little bit more in their monthly Council Tax."
Council Tax funds over 62% of the council’s budget. The Government therefore encourages councils to consider a 4.99% total increase to Council Tax.
This is an equivalent rise of £1.51 a week for a Band D property. The increase is made from a 3 per cent increase to the ‘adult social care precept’ and 1.99% increase to ‘core Council Tax’. In total this will provide £5.7 million towards the cost of council services.
Residents on low incomes are reminded that they might be eligible for Council Tax support. Find out more information here.