Bills look set to rise as budget is backed

Local authority fighting to manage finances

Council tax bills in the Royal Borough look set to rise by nearly five per cent from April 1 as part the local authority’s efforts to balance its books.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors unanimously backed the rise contained within its new £118million budget – which sets out its plans for income and spending.

Since a warning in September that the borough risked a section 114 notice – effectively a declaration of bankruptcy – the council has grappled to reign in the finances.

The budget builds on plans which have already been introduced, such as increases to parking fees, to help combat an eye-watering £200million debt pile and rising costs for service provision.

Chief financial officer Elizabeth Griffith told the meeting: “Managing the finances at RBWM is a constant concern we’ve had legacy cuts to council tax and that’s left us with funding that’s much less than our neighbours.

“We would have to increase our budget by a quarter to match them and on top of this we’ve got a high level of legacy debt to service.

“It’s a very, very difficult and challenging situation.”

Council tax comprises almost 80 per cent of the borough’s income and the council expects it will generate £93million for the year 24/25.

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Lynne Jones (Old Windsor, OWRA) said that due to historic low council tax, the council was £353 worse off per person than comparable councils.

Maintaining rates lower than neighbouring authorities was a key pledge of the previous Tory administration.

She added: “With the enormous effort of officers and members in a challenging situation, and despite last year’s budget being inadequate, we have delivered a balanced budget.

“We have had a £5.2million growth to adult social care and £2.6million to children’s care, two areas of high pressure in the next financial year - and we have increased the contingency by £1.2million to £3.5million to provide protection for our low reserves.”

Adult social care and housing is the largest cost to the council in its budget, predicted to amount more than £44million in 24/25.

The borough has an ageing population placing a heightened demand on social care services and these costs have continued to increase.

Of the 4.99 per cent rise, two per cent is ringfenced as funding for this care through the Adult Social Care Precept.

Results from a public consultation over the new budget showed 50 per cent of respondents supported an increase in general council tax while 47 per cent supported the additional two per cent change.

Cabinet member for adults, health and housing services, Councillor Catherine Del Campo (Lib Dem, Furze Platt) discussed the consultation results.

“We do very much need to take care of our most vulnerable residents, and that’s a message that comes through in support of what we’re doing and those who don’t – they all see the value of them,” Cllr Del Campo said.

She added: “A comment that strongly resonated with me [was that] adult social care should be a central government responsibility.

“I couldn’t agree with that more, but we have to deal with the situation as it is.”

Also contained within the budget is a £13million investment in capital infrastructure, which includes improving roads, as well as a more than £5million decarbonisation grant.

A last-minute change to continue consulting over increases to sports pitch fees was also agreed by councillors after it was criticised over planned changes [see more on page 6].

Cabinet’s decision is subject to a vote by full council which next meets on February 29.

The budget is available to view at: tinyurl.com/2s3nk6w5