Parking will increase by 10p an hour as Wiltshire Council confirm budget
The meeting went on for hours yesterday (Tuesday 15th February)
Wiltshire Council have confirmed that the price of parking in their car parks will increase by 10p an hour.
The local authority's budget for the upcoming financial year has been finalised, as well a 10 year business plan.
This means that the cost of parking will rise for the first time in four years in the county.
Charges are also being introduced for Blue Badge holders and it will no longer be free to park on Sundays.
WHAT DOES THE BUDGET MEAN FOR YOU?
Wiltshire Councils have a budget of just over £417 million for the 2022/23 financial year.
More than half of that will be spent on the key support and care provided to adults and children.
Meanwhile, around £92m will be spent on the vital day-to-day services such as waste management, road maintenance, leisure and library services, as well as the council’s carbon management and climate change work.
Over the half the budget is funded through council tax payments.
At the full council meeting yesterday, it was confirmed that the local authority's part of the council tax bill will increase by 1.99%.
For the average property that's a rise of £47.56 for the year.
There's also an additional 1% increase directly for adult social care.
That's the highest amount they could have put council tax up by.
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council said:
“This is a hugely significant budget for Wiltshire. A budget that makes some difficult decisions now to set the council on a stable financial footing for the next three years.
“It takes a long term strategic approach to the challenges we face and the work we need to do to transform the way we deliver adult social care, our high streets, the way we generate our energy and the way we protect our environment. A budget that will invest over a billion pounds in Wiltshire over the next eight years in housing, transport, schools and leisure. A budget set after significant consideration of the pressure we face and the options we have, a budget to control our costs and deliver a clear vision for the future of Wiltshire and the council focusing on making a positive difference in the long term.
“We, of course recognise, that this is a concerning time for residents, particularly with the cost of living on the rise, and we ourselves have had to make some tough decisions in setting the budget. But we firmly believe that, with our Business Plan principals right at the heart of everything we do as a council, we’ll work side-by-side with our communities to keep Wiltshire the distinctive place it is, ensuring it remains somewhere that people want to live, work in and visit.”