Investing in services across the community

The Royal Boroughs’s finance reports are open and transparent and we include all known risks so the residents we are privileged to serve can fully understand the council’s financial position.

Some like to focus on the council’s debt which is money borrowed to build and improve community facilities such as leisure centres, for infrastructure to support our growing population and the important regeneration of Maidenhead.

We forecast debt to be £213million at the end of the financial year but in 2024/25 this will start to reduce, if we chose, capital receipts would allow us to be debt free by 2036.

What is more important to residents is the impact of the draft Revenue Budget that is still open to public consultation at https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/budgetconsultation.

I anticipate that many would be surprised to learn that we propose to invest an additional £5.3 million in council services including bus services, climate change and protecting vulnerable children whilst making savings of £3.3 million, not through cutting or compromising the quality of services but through our highly successful transformation programme.

No one likes increased costs, but the likely council tax increase of 3 per cent will be below inflation and residents of Windsor and Maidenhead will benefit from the lowest council tax outside of London and for a Band D property between £280 and £500 less than our neighbouring local authorities.

Cllr DAVID HILTON Cabinet Member for Finance and Ascot