Residents are unhappy as South Gloucestershire plans a 4.99% council tax increase, despite many voicing their concerns during consultations.
South Gloucestershire: So, the council’s decided to raise the council tax by 4.99% starting in April. This means that for Band D households, the bill will hit £1,931.33. And guess what? Most folks aren’t happy about it. They voiced their concerns during the public consultation, but it seems their worries fell on deaf ears.
Now, the budget doesn’t cut any services directly this year, but it does include some fee hikes. For instance, garden waste collection fees are going up from £60 to £70. That’s just a year after they doubled from £30! Plus, they’re introducing car parking charges and cutting funding for public toilets and playing fields. The council leader, Cllr Maggie Tyrrell, warned that tougher financial times are on the horizon.
Even with the savings they’ve identified, they’ll still need to make about £12 million in cuts by 2028/29 to keep things balanced. They’re set to discuss these proposals soon, but there are also some new investments in the mix. For example, they plan to hire an extra occupational therapist to help residents who rely on assistive tech to live independently.
They’re also filling a funding gap to support domestic abuse victims and investing in speech therapy for young offenders. It’s a mixed bag, really. While a third of the 1,869 residents who responded to the consultation were okay with the tax hike, nearly 55% were against it. Many preferred a smaller increase of 3.99% instead.
Each 1% increase brings in about £2 million for the council. The report mentioned that the rise in garden waste subscriptions is to cover rising costs and align with neighboring councils. But many residents are still feeling the pinch from last year’s fee hikes.
The council is working with local groups to figure out how to manage cuts to community services, but they’re only expecting to save about £15,000 a year from 2028/29. They’re trying to prioritize changes that won’t affect service delivery too much, but it’s a tough balancing act.
Cllr Tyrrell acknowledged the challenges of managing budgets in these tough times. She’s hopeful they can keep things stable for now, but she’s also realistic about the future. The council is keen to keep the lines of communication open with residents to understand their needs better.
It’s clear that the council is trying to navigate a tricky situation, balancing budget constraints with the needs of the community. They’re committed to having those conversations with residents to make informed decisions moving forward.
