Wiltshire Council tax set to rise as cabinet unveils 'balanced budget'

The council has released its proposals for a balanced budget for the next two years in the face of high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis affecting thousands of households across the county.

The council says the proposed budget of £485 million for 2024/25 will deliver quality vital services during the next financial year while also delivering on its strategic business plan priorities.

In a bid to balance the books, the council plans to raise council tax by 2.99 per cent, in addition to a two per cent levy to pay for adult social care, making a total of 4.99 per cent.

The council tax requirement would be set at £351.077 million for 2024/25, with a Band D household charged £1,805.73, an increase of £1.65 per week or roughly £85 a year.

This will be added to potential increases to the council tax bill from the fire and police services, as well as parish councils, to decide the final council tax bill sent to homes from April.

Andy Brown, Wiltshire Council’s deputy chief executive; Cllr Nick Butterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning; and Cllr Richard Clewer, the Wiltshire Council leader, briefing the media at County Hall. Photo: Trevor Porter 70513-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Cllr Nick Botterill, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning, said: “Last year, I described how we were setting a budget in unprecedented circumstances because of all the pressures and headwinds.

“This year the pressures have eased somewhat although that is not to under-estimate the serious challenges that we have to face.

“Inflation continues at fairly high levels and it is not only the upward price pressure that causes the problems it is mainly the uncertainty about forecasting and what inflation is going to be.

“Demand is still rising across many of our service areas, particularly children’s services, SEND transport as well as adult social care and increases in demand have to be reflected in all our proposals.”

The council is forecasting a “small underspend” of approximately £634,000 for the 2023/24 financial year as a result of its robust financial management, Cllr Botterill said.

“This, alongside the approach taken last year to set a balanced budget over the Medium Term Financial Strategy period puts the council in a good financial position going forwards into 2024/25.

“This position is further enhanced by the proposal this year of a balanced budget for 2024/25 and for 2025/26 financial year. This means there are no proposals or reliance on reserves to sustain service delivery over the next two years.”

“It is certainly not a slash-and-burn approach in Wiltshire. Quite the opposite, and I hope that is something we are managing to convey to our residents.”

Cllr Botterill said that 84 per cent of their net spend will come from council tax and business rates

"Taken with the fees and charges which are levied for various aspects of our services, that means we are getting to a situation of greater financial independence.”

The budget for 2024/25 sees a net £17m increase in service expenditure and a budgeted contribution of just less than £7m to the High Needs reserve.

The proposals include £14.4m of savings included in last year’s budget setting process and previously approved, updated to £14.8m to reflect known deliverability and timing changes, and £4.9m of new savings proposals as part of the cost containment activity and to close the remaining budget gap.

Cllr Richard Clewer, the Wiltshire Council leader, said: “We cannot rely on the  Government.

“I have always said it is insanity for any council to be sitting there waiting for any Government to solve its problems because Government doesn’t work on a timescale that solves councils’ problems.

“It is always patches and sticking plasters. We are really focusing on addressing our problems and tackling them ourselves.”

The budget proposals will be scrutinised by various groups before being discussed and debated by councillors at a Full Council meeting on February 20.