Draft budget set for final decision

Published in Weston & Worle news on Thu 23rd Feb 2006

North Somerset Council has settled on a final draft budget proposal that will see a 4.9 per cent increase in council tax in April, and a number of services threatened by cuts have been saved. Councillors agreed the figures at a meeting of the executive last Tuesday, and full council will make the final decision next Tuesday.

The total proposed council tax increase - excluding parish and town council precepts, the fire and police authorities - is £49.02 per annum for a Band D property.A number of changes have b

A number of changes have been made to the draft budget, following a series of consultation events with the general public.

The council has made £697,000 worth of savings which have been redirected to areas of the budget residents had objected to being cut.

A reduction in capital costs and charges has saved £572,000, and a further £125,000 has been saved this year following a review of the car allowance rate paid to staff, saving £500,000 over the next three years.

Of the redistributed money, £137,000 has gone to children's services, which has prevented cuts to the childminding budget for vulnerable families, and £257,000 has gone back into the adult social services budget.

This means transport to day centres can continue without charge, and the home care and community meals services will continue.

A further £157,000 will be put into libraries and to maintain services such as street cleaning, rights of way and grant aid, and £86,000 will be invested in improving play areas in North Somerset.

Liberal Democrat executive member for finance Mike Bell said: "We are grateful for the contributions we have received from the public and the input of our fellow councillors.

"Residents told us that they were unhappy about cuts to sustainability, so we have protected those services.

"People told us they were worried about plans to charge vulnerable people for transport to day centres; we agreed, and have abandoned the idea.

"Residents told us they wanted more for children and young people, so we have injected much needed cash into improving our play areas.

"People told us that street cleaning and highways maintenance was a priority, so we have protected them from cutbacks.

"Residents said they valued the meals on wheels service and didn't want to see cuts."We agree and will not seek

"We agree and will not seek to save cash by hitting the most vulnerable in our community."