Spending plans agreed
COUNCILLORS approved spending plans of £130.1 million for the coming year at a meeting of Full Council last night, Monday 3 March 2008.
In November 2007, there was a series of local public consultation events where you told us how we are doing and what our spending priorities should be. The views and comments made at these events then helped shape the spending proposals that were published for consultation in January this year.
The agreed budget includes new priority investments to respond to the issues raised by residents during the consultations and include:
• Introducing a new kerbside collection service for dry recyclable materials – responding to your views that we need to do more to increase recycling and reduce landfill
• Establishing an improving the look of the borough fund to improve the highway drainage, overall condition of our roads and the standard and frequency of street cleaning – in response to your views that we need cleaner street sand better roads
• Setting up a neighbourhood improvement fund to establish neighbourhood areas and address local issues identified by local residents – responding to your views that we need to work more closely with neighbourhoods and communities
• Provide short term investment to build capacity to deliver improved services
• Strengthening licensing enforcement – responding to your concerns about alcohol related antisocial behaviour
The budget also approves £40.7 million capital investment plans for 2008/09 and includes:-
• £2.2 million to set-up the new kerbside collection service for dry recyclable materials
• £21.6 million to maintain and improve our schools, council buildings and highways
• £5.6 million to maintain and improve our housing stock
A major part of the budget was identifying nearly £7.2 million efficiency savings to protect the services that matter to the people of Warrington.
The council continues to keep council tax increases as low as possible. Band D Council Taxpayers in Warrington pay £90 less a year for council services when compared to the average council tax level for similar councils.
Councillors agreed a council tax increase of 4.7% for services provided by the council from 1st April 2008. For a Band D property this means a 92p per week increase.
The budget also identifies the council tax increases agreed by Warrington Parish Councils, Cheshire Police Authority (17% increase) and Cheshire Fire Authority (2.8% increase) – the council does not set these. In total, after taking these increases into account and depending upon which area of the borough residents live - council tax will increase by between 5.5% and 6.2% from 1st April 2008.
Peter Walker, Executive Board member for corporate services, says: “Our recent four star rating from the Audit Commission recognises that the council is improving well and continues to make good use of its resources, delivers good value for money and has a stable financial position.
“We consulted widely in the run up to deciding our spending plans and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took part. We have listened to your views and as a result made changes to our spending plans.”
Ends
Issued by: Joanna Driscoll, Principal Communications Officer
Date: Tuesday 4 March, 2008
Release: Immediate
