Monmouthshire's
final budget proposals includes cash for frontline services
Monmouthshire Council's Cabinet has recommended a budget
designed to provide more money for frontline services while meeting the
financial challenges created by the economic downturn and squeeze on public
finances.
The proposals were considered at a meeting of Cabinet today,
(17th February). Cabinet recommended that the council set a budget of £149.8
million for 2010 / 2011.
For residents, this will mean a 3.9% increase in council tax
- about 70 pence a week for a Band D property.
Leader of the council, Councillor Peter Fox, said:
"We have the difficult task of deciding how we will deliver
all our services with the money we have been given.
"The budget makes the most of a small pot of money and
focuses on protecting schools and ensuring social services meet the needs of
everyone who needs them in Monmouthshire.
"Rural Monmouthshire has an increasing elderly population
and falling school numbers which puts an added strain on the budget. This
is on top of the services we already provide such as running schools,
maintaining roads and supporting vulnerable people. "
The proposals include:
Changes to the original proposals have been made after the
council received feedback from their consultations.
The budget will no longer include
plans to
The proposals look at:
-
reintroducing a residents'
magazine that will be delivered to householders in the county;
-
changing the year's rate of
council tax from the original proposal of 3% to 3.9% (although it will be
reduction compared to last year's rate of 4.95%)
Cabinet Member for Finance,
Councillor Phil Murphy, said:
"This year we extended the time
frame for consultation on the budget proposals. Members were given plenty
of time to look at the proposals, with a far more detailed an approach than had
occurred previously and has been generally well received.
"We've based these proposals on feedback
we had through consultation which took place at Monmouth, Abergavenny, Mor
Hafren and the Schools Budget Forum.
"They told us they wanted to see a
paper edition of residents' magazine, ‘Community Spirit'.
This has been taken on board and a joint publication will come out
in the Spring in conjunction with the Local Service Board.
"Our plans for changing toilets that
are underused or not accessible for those with disabilities have been
postponed. Town councils indicated a willingness to take these on but
community councils have said that they would be unable to take responsibility
for toilets yet so we will proceed with the ground work for this proposal but
have removed it from this year's budget.
"The recent cold snap has affected
the highways structure of the county and therefore the proposal to take £85,000
savings out of the investment planned has been withdrawn.
"The final settlement, when it came
was a blow. Monmouthshire as usual got a poor deal but at least we were
fourth from bottom but still, alas, 22nd as regards per capita
funding. The effect of the final settlement was to take £288,000 out of
our calculations. This meant that we still had over a million to find
subsequent to the consultation document.
"After adjusting the final
council tax base and re-appraising the funds required for the single status issue in the coming year, Cabinet has
concluded especially in view of the pasting the authority has had over the cold
spell, that it has no option than to increase the rate of council tax from the
working assumption of 3% to 3.9%. This is in line with other authorities
and the police authority."
The revenue and capital budget 2010/11 final
proposals can be viewed at: http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/downloads/Revenue_and_Capital_Budget_2010-11_-_Final_Proposals.pdf
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