Council’s budget set to be debated by councillors next week which includes a rise in Council Tax and changes to parking fees

Proposals to invest in a fair, thriving and sustainable future for West Suffolk and improve essential services while meeting significant national and local financial challenges are due to be debated by councillors next week.

Committee papers have been published on the proposed budget for 2024 to 2025 which will support the delivery of the authority’s newly agreed ambitious strategic priorities.

This includes investing in essential services that residents rely on, supporting thriving communities, sustainable growth, the delivery of affordable, available and decent homes while also focusing on environmental resilience … but there will be an increase in Council Tax charges and changes to parking fees in Bury St Edmunds.

West Suffolk Council is forecasting a two-year balanced budget despite an additional £5 million in pressures (around 7 per cent of the overall £69 million gross budget). This has been caused by increased inflation, cost of living and higher demand for services, additional demands from government and traditional reduced funding.

The budget plans will be looked at by West Suffolk Council Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, January 25.

The proposals support a balanced operational budget for the next two years and a 10 year, £131 million capital investment programme and will include but not limited to new and continued investments such as:

Essential service improvements

• £200,000 – Investment in the council’s Grounds Maintenance service through increased skilled workforce and additional investment in new green equipment for operational efficiencies.
• £590,000 in a range of vital services such as Building Control to ensure safety of developments; planning to deliver the future of West Suffolk through the Local Plan and meet the priorities such as ensuring more affordable homes; regulatory services to meet increased demands especially around checking private sector housing are at required standards.

Affordable, available and decent homes

• Council is also due to debate as part of the budget setting process the introduction of a second homes Council Tax premium to encourage owners to bring them back into use to help relieve the pressure on existing housing stock in the area.
• Around £1.2m has been budgeted on preventing people becoming homeless.
• £100,000 provision to identify more ways in which the council can increase affordable, preferably social housing, across the district, including investigating the use of a Housing Revenue Account so that the council can build home for social and affordable rent.
• Continued support of Barley Homes Limited to develop much needed housing, including affordable properties.

 Sustainable growth

• An increased £30.0m capital funding provision to support investment in our growth strategy which will be subject to separate business cases
• An additional £3m capital budget (£15.1m in total) for the AME units, Suffolk Park, which is a partnership project bringing advanced manufacturing skills and jobs as well as business growth to the area.
• A £2.3m investment in commercial units owned by the council at Anglian Lane site, in Bury St Edmunds, and 2 Hollands Road, Haverhil,l to regenerate the asset to support business growth whilst increasing its rental income which goes towards the delivery of much valued local services
• Establish a commissioning fund to progress a number of sustainable growth initiatives including along the A11 corridor near Mildenhall, A1307 and A14 to bring more employment and business opportunities.

 Environmental resilience

• £2.75m of investment to top up the Net Zero fund totalling £11.75m to support further investment in council assets, including the leisure portfolio and the authority’s highly successful solar for business scheme.

Thriving communities

• Over £13m capital investment in a range of improvements to parks, open spaces and leisure facilities across West Suffolk over the next 10 years. Including funding for Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Brandon Leisure Centres and a joint investment towards a multi-million capital project delivering a new sports hall at the St Felix site, in Newmarket, (subject to partnership funding approval).
• £440,000 over the next two years in car park improvements, resurfacing and new EV points through the district.
• The budget will also support the newly announced Brandon Commission. This will look at the issues faced in delivering new housing in Brandon which is currently limited due to its surrounding unique national habitats.
• £300,000 fund to give extraordinary utility support for Abbeycroft to cover and protect from swimming pool closures or reduction in provision.
• Establish a £200,000 fund to support activities and advice to help residents facing challenges as a result of the cost of living crisis.

At the same time the council continues to invest £646,000 in Community Chest and Locality Budgets that support tailored local initiatives.

The council also continues to invest in initiatives such as Solar for Business which is expected to bring in ongoing income of around £760,000 per year and reduced costs for businesses. So far 78 business premises have signed up to the scheme. This has prevented 1,670 tonnes of carbon from being released into the atmosphere.

This year government has given a significantly below inflation settlement and expects in their calculations that all councils put up Council Tax to the maximum amount available (2.99 per cent).

West Suffolk proposes to follow other local authorities and government guidance with a rise of 11p a week extra (£5.76 a year increase) to £197.82 for the average Band D property.

Seventy per cent of properties in West Suffolk are with band A to C and will therefore pay less than this.

Council Tax paid to West Suffolk Council is only 11 per cent of the total bill and covers under a fifth of the cost of services. The council has also agreed to extend up to 100 per cent discount on Council Tax to many low income and vulnerable residents, including those in work.

The budget process has also given the opportunity to listen to residents, businesses and car park users by simplifying some parking charges and abolishing others.

It is proposed the £1 overnight charge for Bury St Edmunds car parks in the evening will be abolished making parking in the evenings simpler by doing away with the confusion over the overnight charge. Parking tariffs will be extended to 8pm and then free afterwards in Bury St Edmunds.

In addition, following feedback it is proposed to introduce the option of a new additional hour’s parking on the short stay Cattle Market car park. All other tariffs and discounts will remain across West Suffolk.

In addition, the council will make £1m in savings or new local income over the next two years as part of its continuing service improvement and behaving commercially programme. This is on top of the £1m already achieved in the current year’s budget.

Proposals will go to PASC this month before going to cabinet and then council for final decision in February.

The link to the papers can be found Agenda for Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 25 January 2024, 5.00 pm (westsuffolk.gov.uk)