An extra £55 on bills for ‘optimistic budget’

Residents will pay Bath and North East Somerset Council £55 more from April to fund an “optimistic change of direction”.

Deputy leader Richard Samuel revealed that major reviews are planned in four key areas, sparking claims taxpayers will not know the true impact of the budget for months to come.

Opposition members again branded the spending plans “vague and uninspiring” but he said the Liberal Democrats were delivering on their election promises.

Cllr Samuel, the cabinet member for resources, told the full council meeting on February 27: “This budget is optimistic on the future of our area. It departs from the slash and burn policies of the past, which are now so discredited.

“It matches political aspiration with hard cash and I believe will make our area a better place for the future.

“The budget is robust and the assumptions realistic, the tax rises modest and in line with inflation, and it will be managed in a way to ensure that no overspending takes place.”

Cllr Samuel previously said there would be “no cuts and no redundancies”.

He told the meeting there would be “major reviews” of adult services, children’s services, property services and corporate spending.

The budget includes: £2million to redevelop Bath Studio School to provide local specialist educational provision for children with autism and complex social, emotional mental health needs; £300,000 for a refurb of Bath Central Library; £250,000 towards the creation of a centre to house the council’s extensive, internationally significant heritage collections; a total of £800,000 to address the climate emergency; £100,000 more for street cleaning, and £140,000 on litter enforcement as they scrap “private litter army” 3GS; £42,000 for “stronger and more widespread” action on empty homes.

The biggest single sum in the budget is for the £18.3 million cost of implementing Bath’s clean air zone, and for mitigating the impact it will have on residents and businesses. The council expects central government to fund it in full and is set to hear back this month.

Conservative group leader Paul Myers said: “The residents who put their trust in the Lib Dems have been let down by the vagueness of this budget and the uninspiring lack of ambition.

“Given the huge mandate this administration received you would expect them to get the ball rolling on their promises, backed with more detail.

“The public are right to be concerned for the future of Bath and North East Somerset.”

Labour group leader Robin Moss welcomed moves to bring more services in-house but said he was concerned about the lack of detail about the planned reviews.

His colleague Cllr Chris Dando added: “It would be easier to support the good things in this budget if you were honest about the bad things and were able to describe how you are funding it.

“There are so many euphemisms in this budget. It’s difficult to identify how it’s going to work. “I hope we can have an honest discussion about funding.

“There’s no doubt we’re in for tough times. Good times are not around the corner. Local government funding is going to be reduced and reduced and reduced.

“I would be surprised if anyone was interested in paying more and getting less.”

Lib Dem cabinet members queued up to speak in glowing terms about the budget.

Cllr Sarah Warren was “delighted” at the £800,000 allocation to tackle the climate emergency, which includes £323,000 for leadership to help the whole district achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

Cllr Kevin Guy said the council was investing in its successful connecting families service, funding better support for children going through the immigration process and providing ongoing support with travel arrangements to children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Cllr Tim Ball said: “We will be building council houses in this administration.

“We’re investing in bringing empty houses back into use to ensure everyone has a home to live in.”

Cllr David Wood said: “After four years of the managed decline of services by the last council we’ve finally broken free and given our residents hope for the future.”

The council voted to approve the budget for 2020/21.

The budget includes a 3.98 per cent jump in council tax – half of that sum will go on council services, with the rest ring-fenced for adult social care.

The average band D property will pay £55.76 more than last year, equivalent to £1.07 extra per week.

❝ This budget is optimistic on the future of our area. It departs from the slash and burn policies of the past, which are now so discredited Councillor Richard Samuel