County council proposes 5% tax hike

Gloucestershire residents are likely to see their council tax bills go up by 5% from April as Shire Hall chiefs recommend another hike.

Gloucestershire County Council leaders are proposing a general fund revenue budget for 2023/24 which totals £566.110 million.

This is based on an overall council tax increase of 4.99%, made up of 2.99% general tax increase plus a 2% adult social care precept rise.

This will result in a band D council tax of £1,523.78 up from £1,451.36 in the current financial year, if approved by full council next month. This would be an increase of £72.42 per year.

Finance and change cabinet member Lynden Stowe (C, Campden-Vale) said it was almost with some surprise that they are able to present a “sensible” budget after considerable uncertainty over the autumn months.

“More importantly, it allows us to continue delivering vital services to the people in Gloucestershire, in particular, those who need our help the most,” he told the cabinet meeting at Shire Hall on January 25.

“This budget does include a settlement from the Government which is pragmatic and fair. Our revenue budget proposals are a budget of £566 million, an increase of £45 million over this current year.

“That includes an additional £18.8 million for adult services, an additional £17.3 million for children and families, £9.2 million economy, environment and infrastructure and an additional £1.2 million for community safety, an additional £730,000 for prevention and wellbeing.

“And it includes an additional £2.3 million just to fund the increase in utility costs across the council.”

He also explained the proposed budget includes the creation of a £6.2 million children services reserve to help mitigate the “volatility” in external placement market.

The council is also allocating £235 million towards capital investments in Gloucestershire.

This includes £36.4 million towards junction 10 improvements on the M5, just under £11 million towards disabled facilities, just under £10 million towards a new primary school in Bishop’s Cleeve, £7 million towards semi independent accommodation for vulnerable young people.

Full council will have the final say on the budget for 2023/23 at a meeting on February 15.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

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