Council tax hike will aim to protect vulnerable
LEADER’S BID TO PROTECT SERVICES
COUNCIL tax in Calderdale is set to rise to protect services for the elderly and vulnerable, according to budget proposals out for consultation.
Council leader Tim Swift said there would likely be a 1.99% increase alongside an additional 2% precept to help pay for social care services for vulnerable adults and children.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet has been told that social care costs, for care packages which the council has a statutory duty to provide, are the main reason for the authority’s 2019-20 overspend.
Clr Swift said the council’s initial proposals for next year concentrated on protecting services which helped it deliver on long term aims and priorities.
“Going forward our priority is managing spending pressures, making sure we protect the vulnerable, and continuing to do what we can to sustain early intervention,” he said.
In 2020-21 the council is budgeting to spend a net £159 million and Clr Swift says the proposals aim to address current spending pressures to ensure a “balanced and sustainable” budget for next year and future years.
In order to help protect the most vulnerable, additional resources will be targeted on children’s social services and adult social care but at the same time the council will transform the way it provides services.
Protecting and sustaining prevention and early intervention services where possible would avoid short term savings that only led to long-term increases in demand on services, he explained.
Building on measures to help local people facing the effects of austerity, particularly the homeless or those facing destitution, tackling the climate emergency, improving supply of affordable housing and overhauling and improving youth services would all be key aims.
Clr Swift said there were only a small number of budget changes proposed at this stage pending Government announcements about future funding for local government.
In summary these savings, in addition to actions already being taken, include the council reducing contributions to its pension fund in recognition of need to protect frontline services, accepting one-off Transport Fund savings put forward by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and replacing proposed council funding with Government funding announced for the purpose for market town improvements at Elland, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden and Brighouse.
It was not easy balancing the books, he said. “The pressures are really great and substantial. I emphasise we welcome any resources from Government but it is quite clear there remain very real issues about how councils fund social care.”
He told Cabinet the picture after 2020-21 is still unclear and there is still a lot of uncertainty for budgeting for years following, including the impact of Brexit.
“The Government made a one-off spending announcement that gives us the position for the next financial year but we are still waiting for a three or five year spending review. Without a budget it is difficult to see what the ball park figure for any service might be.”