FAMILIES in Wiltshire could be paying an extra 4.99 per cent on their council tax if Wiltshire Council’s 2021/22 draft budget is approved.

Of that, 1.99 per cent is an increase in council tax for the council’s general spending, plus a three per cent social care levy.

This means that the average band D taxpayer will shell out £1,590.60 a year to WC to cover costs including highways, refuse, schools and social care. This amount is on top of paying for the police, the fire service and your town/parish council tax.

The 4.99 per cent is the maximum the unitary council can increase its basic council tax and the social care precept before a local referendum is required.

The draft budget warns that budget planning for 2022/23 will need to start earlier to prepare for estimated shortfalls.

This will be needed to cope with a predicted budget gap of £45.5m in 22/23, a figure which the report predicts will grow to £71.1m by 2024/25.

The adult social care levy – normally capped at two per cent – will from April be applied in the full three per cent allowed by national government, to raise £8.5m to help fund an £8.6m investment to tackle the rising demand from the

Councillors heard there will be an increase of £2.6m in the council’s waste budget, to account for contract inflation and the predicted rise in household waste.

Leisure will also see a boost of £5.1m with the majority (£2.3m) of this being used to tackle the direct impact of Covid-19.

As well as these budget increase, the council has opted not to increase leisure fees and charges, to shield families under financial pressure.

In November the council’s budget gap stood at £29.422m. However, with the Local Government provisional settlement, the use of reserves and the increase in council tax, the budget report suggests this gap will be closed.

The gap is a result of the one-off government funding (£20.3m) and reserves (£8.4m) created as a result of the pandemic.

Cabinet also propose to set aside a £4m invested pot over four years to help Wiltshire’s market town in their coronavirus recovery.

Specific details on the fund will be laid out in the coming financial year. The report says this could include matching local investments or maximising anticipated funding from the government.

This would be through the levelling up fund announced by the Chancellor in November.

A total of £6.6m is proposed to be invested in children’s social care with a further £1.5m to respond to the rising demand for special needs services in Wiltshire.

Alongside this, the draft document proposes a reversal on the £1m public health spending cut.

In terms of capital projects, the plans proposes £214m investment in roads (£22m), schools (£23m), continued investment in the health and wellbeing centres (£20m) – significant investment is earmarked for the Melksham Community Campus – carbon reduction (£3m) and the final transition to LED street lights (£4m) and £50m in around 1,000 new council houses to be provided over the next decade.

The budget will go to full council for approval on February 23.