Council to discuss a 7% council tax rise. Budget totals £405 million, aiming to minimize service cuts and job losses.
The budget totals £405 million. Education gets £121 million, while social services receive £127 million. Corporate services get £18 million, which also includes housing and community safety.
A council spokesman spoke about the budget, stating that finances are tight right now. The draft aims to cut services minimally and avoid job losses.
The council dropped some ideas already, such as changing waste collections to every three weeks. Wheelie bins will not disappear, but they still need to save over £6 million.
They plan to make savings in a few ways. The council will spend less on local bus support, and cemetery fees will increase. Street lights will dim at night too.
The changes could affect homeless services. The goal is to reduce temporary housing needs, and roadwork budgets might shrink including markings, signs, speed bumps and fences.
The council asked the public for feedback and got back 507 questionnaires. Their reserves are around £15.5 million, as of March 31, which is low, so they need to review this.
Cabinet members will discuss this on February 26. If approved, council votes on March 5, which decides if the budget passes.