South Gloucestershire Council agrees budget to beat recession (From Gazette Series)

South Gloucestershire Council agrees budget to beat recession

12:11pm Tuesday 24th February 2009 in

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A BUDGET to beat the economic slowdown has been agreed by South Gloucestershire Council.

All three political parties have signed up to the recession-proof budget, the second lowest in the history of South Gloucestershire with a council tax rise of 3.9 percent.

The rise will mean the average band D property in South Gloucestershire will pay tax of £1,214.89.

Leader of the Conservative-led council, Cllr John Calway, said: "Our budget proposals are designed to help South Gloucestershire better withstand the tough economic times we are now in.

"Our households are expecting their council to tighten its belt, just as they are."

The package for 2009/10 includes: - a £5million reserve of £5M to protect frontline council services and withstand pressure during the recession - a £5million ‘invest to save’ fund to fund investments needed to achieve future efficiency savings - an additional £2million a year investment in highways maintenance, taking the total spent on the region’s roads to £3.8million - an additional £150,000 a year to fund more domestic energy efficiency measures.

- £150,000 to fund five extra police community support officers - £800,000 extra to help divert waste from landfill Added Cllr Calway: "The administration has built up reserves in the good times to allow us to protect services during the bad times.

"We are, therefore, ring-fencing a special reserve designed to withstand the pressures that will be put on some budgets during this depression."

Last year, the council agreed a three-year budget programme to provide stability and security.

Cllr Ruth Davis (Lib Dem, Yate Central), Liberal Democrat leader, said the party was disappointed its proposals for kerbside plastic collections were not being funded this financial year.

She said: "But in the present economic crisis it would be imprudent to move forward with such a project when so many things are in a state of flux and the indicative budget for year three has no allowance made for possible credit crunch issues."

Labour leader Cllr Roger Hutchinson (Lab, Filton) said the party was pleased to have won support for three of its schemes, including close to £25,000 to fund an additional street cleaner.

He said: ""We have been deliberately modest in our proposals because we need to manage public finances carefully, but believe our schemes will really benefit our local communities.

"Councillors hear the complaints about the state of our town centres and other shopping areas, so we have put in another cleaner which will improve our capacity to deal with the problem."

The council has plans to reduce the increase in council tax to 3.4 percent in 2010/11 and 2.9 percent in 2011/12.