How should Wiltshire Council spend its budget?
We're asked to help the authority decide its financial priorities
A series of interactive drop-in events are being held in Wiltshire, for us to help the Council decide on their financial priorities in their next Budget.
The authority's drawing up its spending plan for 2025/26 and is looking for our views.
But they've warned local authority budgets are under greater scrutiny and pressure than ever before - due to increasing demand for services, particularly in adults’ services, children’s social care and SEND.
Demand has also been affected by the cost-of-living crisis, fluctuating inflation and continued higher and unpredictable energy prices.
We can have a say and discuss the options with the Leader of Wiltshire Council, Richard Clewer and Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Nick Botterill.
A session's being held at Salisbury Library, on Monday (7th October) between 3.30 and 6.30pm.
What's does the Budget include?
Wiltshire council gets nearly 84% of its core funding from local taxes, business rates and council tax.
In 2024/25 the council’s budget is around £490 million which is broken down as:
• Adult services - £179.4m
• Families and children - £70.8m
• Environment - £49.6m
• Highways and transport - £43m
• Education and skills - £38.9m
Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, said:
“Local authorities are legally obliged to set a balanced budget. Our prudent and preventative approach over the last few years has put Wiltshire Council in a strong position to deliver high quality services for Wiltshire’s residents, businesses, and communities, in line with its Business Plan priorities. However, we are not immune to the challenging time it is for council finances with growing demand for services and increasing costs.
“We want to hear people’s views on how they think we should prioritise spending in 2025/26, so that this can inform how we invest in key services and programmes to ensure we continue to deliver services that meet the need of our residents, businesses and communities.”