A budget for 2012/13 that reduces Council borrowing, freezes Council Tax, improves services, and provides more money for community projects for Bath residents was approved last night.
All proposals put forward by the Cabinet were agreed. The detail of these can be found here.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “These are difficult times for Britain’s economy with the Government taking action to reduce the financial deficit, including cutting grants to councils. Significant changes in national legislation with higher demand for Council services due to factors such as an increasingly elderly population have made setting the 2012/13 budget very challenging.
“How are we dealing with these challenges? Whilst other councils have made deep cuts to frontline services, we have taken steps to become more efficient in the way in which our services are provided and protected frontline priority public services. For example, the transfer of social care staff to a social enterprise will deliver annual savings of £1.9 million by the fifth year of our contract. Our projected borrowings are being reduced from £206 million to £172 million.
“As a result of becoming more efficient, 90 per cent of our overall reduction in spending is in ways other than service cuts that are limited to £1.2 million, or 0.5% of our budget. We have also frozen Council Tax and parking charges in recognition of the effects of the recession on people and kept weekly bin collections.
“In light of the new challenges we face, a refreshed Vision for our area sets out what services that people should expect and helps guide investment priorities. This Vision will help people to fulfil their potential, support active and lively communities, and treasure our unique places and beautiful surroundings.
“To build a stronger economy, we are investing over £80 million into communities across the area for projects including Bath Riverside, the regeneration of Keynsham and Radstock, and the Bath Transportation Package. These will help create new jobs, more homes, and greater prosperity for local people.
“To create neighbourhoods where people are proud to live, we are investing £1.2 million over two years to ensure there are decent and affordable homes in the private and social sector, £500,000 introducing 20 mph zones on many residential streets to improve safety, and improving community facilities at Odd Down Playing Fields and Paulton Library.
“To promote independence and positive lives for everyone, an extra £520,000 in 2012/13 will support older people to live independently and an extra £200,000 to cover care placements and support young care leavers. £7.5 million is available to further improve the standard of school buildings. Our vision and budget put people first and communities at the heart of everything we do.”
Residents can discover how the Council will make a difference in their community and the outcomes that we will achieve on their website: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/vision2012.
