A “resilient budget” which has protected key services was agreed last night (Wednesday) by Conservative-led Bromsgrove District Council.
Members unanimously agreed a 2.99% increase to the local authority’s section of the Council Tax bill. A rise which is below inflation, and which will see an increase of just 15p per week for District services.
The rise will mean the council’s part of the average Band D Council Tax will cost £265.18 which is just £5.10 a week, or the price of a large takeaway cup of coffee! This keeps services sustainable, green spaces glowing, and infrastructure improving.
Bromsgrove District Council collects the whole bill on behalf of Worcestershire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Fire and Rescue Service and parish councils.
Due to a delay in the County Council’s setting of its precept, an extraordinary meeting of the District Council will be held on March 6. This is to incorporate the County Council's agreed increases to complete the final council tax setting position and enable council tax billing to be generated.
Then the whole bill can be collated and send out to residents.
Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Simon Nock, said:
“This resilient budget will enable us to continue to provide excellent services even at this difficult time for local government, while protecting our residents from massive council tax rises.
“It is a budget in which all political groups have been involved, and it was great to see unanimous support in the Chamber last night.
“By creating a new £2.5m resilience fund, we are also ensuring that Bromsgrove remains on a stable footing, no matter what the national economy throws at us and with Local Government Reorganisation in mind.”
The council spending is once again in line with its priorities of Economic Development, Housing, Environment and Infrastructure. The takeaway this year is that we’ve rolled out new wheeled bins for every home right across the district as well as a new fleet of bin collection lorries.
This is on top of multi-million-pound commitments already made by the District Council for major regeneration and wellbeing projects, including Bromsgrove Town Centre through redevelopment of the former Market Hall site transforming it into Nailers Yard.
Our communities have enjoyed events all over the district, in clean, green spaces maintained by our teams.
Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, Cllr Karen May said:
“Our focus has always been on creating a Better Bromsgrove. Despite the complex landscape of Local Government finance, we have kept our tax increase below current inflation rates.
“We only retain a small proportion of the entire council tax bill which has historically been around 13%, and we are making that work harder than ever to protect the frontline services our residents value most.”
