Council approves budget and 2.5% tax increase
Posted on Sunday 21st February 2010 at 11:59 pm by SH (Editor)South Gloucestershire Council has adopted a 2.5 per cent council tax increase and a budget of just under £190m for 2010/11.
The rise will mean the average band D property in South Gloucestershire will pay a council tax of £1,245.20. This represents an increase of just under 60 pence a week for council services, compared to 2009/10.
The budget provides for:
- An extra £2million a year to improve the maintenance of roads, pavements and drains in the district (including funding towards repairing potholes caused by the recent adverse weather)
- Around £1.2million for a transport concession scheme for young people aged 14 to 18-years-old
- An extra £650k towards safeguarding vulnerable children
- Maintaining concessionary fares for older people
- £600k a year extra for community care to reflect the increased client care numbers
- A reserve of £1.4million to help protect services in the future as funding reduces because of the current financial climate
Also, work is planned to start or conclude on a number of capital schemes in the next financial year (2010/11), including:
- A £12million community special school
- Around £10million towards two “hubs” providing a range of services for children and young people and their families in partnership with NHS South Gloucestershire
- Three multi-million pound extra care housing developments
- £2.5million refurbishment of Kingswood leisure centre
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
