City council’s yearly budget waved through

The city council’s budget for the next financial year has been voted through by councillors.

It proposed £4.2 million of savings over the next five years amid a marked reduction in central government funding.

Addressing the council before its vote on the budget on Thursday, Conservative leader Simon Cook said the authority’s coffers remained cash-strapped.

“Local government finance remains under pressure,” he said.

“Our so-called Formula Funding from central government is down almost 40% over the last four years.”

The budget proposed an increase of 2.98% in its share of council tax, which would add £6.12 a year to the bill for a band D property.

For the next financial year, there will also be increases of 4% in sports pitches and bowls and tennis courts hire, 4% in allotment rents, 4% in many cemetery fees, 4% for replacement waste and recycling bins and 3% for most beach hut site fees and administration costs.

However, councillors Alan Baldock (Lab) and Michael Dixey (Lib Dem) both criticised the Conservatives’ use of finances since 2015.

They both pointed to the council’s purchase of Whitefriars, homes in Parham Court and the multi-million pound deal to build the multi-storey car park in Station Road West.

Cllr Baldock proposed an amendment to use £120,000 to create an “affordable homes team” tasked with assessing sites for new council houses, but it was voted down after Cllr Cook said a team was already in place.