Council publishes draft budget proposals

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has published draft budget proposals which will be considered at the meeting of The Cabinet on Monday 18 January.

Once endorsed the budget proposals will be subject to consultation with the public and local businesses, and final decisions being made by Full Council on Monday 29 February.

Shortly before Christmas the government published the provisional local government finance settlement. This settlement identified the level of support that would be provided to every council for each of the next four years. For Stratford the level of Revenue Support Grant will reduce from £1.9m in the current year to zero by 2019/20.  Although income from business rates is expected to increase, other areas of financing such as new homes bonus are also reducing significantly over the same period.
 
Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “These are extremely challenging times for local authorities.  In response to these reductions in funding, the budget proposals include the requirement to undertake a fundamental review of all of the activities of the Council. This will be a considered programme that will question what services the Council can maintain in the future and how these services will be delivered.

“The purpose of the review will be to ensure that the Council can remain sustainable in light of reduced resources. It is proposed that the review will commence in April 2016, the initial target of budget reductions arising from this review will be £250,000 in 2017/18 increasing to £1m by 2020/21.
 
“It is vitally important that in undertaking the review resources are concentrated on maintaining service delivery so far as possible. All areas will be considered especially management costs; the first stage of the review will therefore be to examine the Council's Senior Management Structure. A target of £100,000 of savings in this area has been identified and published in addition to the savings required, it is likely that Council will be asked to determine any revised structure alongside the budget proposals in February." 
 
The Council has a strong record of sound financial management, over the last five years significant savings have been delivered which have meant that the Council has not had to increase Council Tax. However, given the scale of the reductions in funding it is important the Council acts to ensure the long term financial position is maintained.