Have your say on budget plan

Thursday, 19 December, 2019

Residents and businesses are being encouraged to comment on our latest four-year budget plan.

People can find out more and have their say by completing a short survey.

The proposals underline that rising demand for support and infrastructure is placing growing pressure on budgets.

With costs set to rise by £117m, the strategy sets out the need for £80m of savings. It also includes £16m of investment in tackling climate change, an extra £34m to support vulnerable people and £7m next year to top up road maintenance budgets.

As one of the lowest funded councils, our financial position doesn’t make it easy. But we remain focused on delivering the services our residents need.

We’ve listened to feedback from our summer consultation on the council’s priorities and would encourage people to take the time to have their say.
Person:Byron Rhodes, deputy council leader

A 3.99 per cent Council Tax increase - equating to just over £1 a week – is proposed for 2020/21. This would reduce the impact on services by generating £12m next year to support vulnerable people.

A range of one-off investments to support infrastructure for new homes features in the £600m capital programme. This includes building the Melton Mowbray relief road, creating 6,400 more school places - 5,900 mainstream and 500 SEND - expanding adult social care accommodation and rolling out high-speed broadband.

Have your say

You can comment on the proposals until 19 January

Find out what people said about the council's priorities during our summer consultation

Find out more

Growing demand is set to push up the council’s costs by £117m - made up of £59m of service pressure and £58m inflation costs such as increases in supplier charges and the National Living Wage.

The £80m breaks down as £24m of detailed savings and a plan to reduce SEND costs by £17m, leaving a £39m gap. The detailed savings include:

Recruiting more in-house foster carers to reduce expensive placements
Reducing adult social care costs by simplifying processes and speeding up support
Bringing together early help and prevention services - and delivering some in-house
Reduce disposal costs by recycling and re-using more waste
Generating more income from property investment

The 3.99 per cent rise includes a two per cent national levy to be invested in adult social care – councils have had the option to include up to eight per cent over four years.

The capital budget is made up of one-off spend to buy or build things and invest in infrastructure.

The final budget will be agreed by the county council at its meeting on 19 February.