Our spending plans for 2023 to 2024
The level of Council Tax
Council Tax is the main source of locally-raised income for this authority and is used to meet the difference between the amount a local authority wishes to spend and the amount it receives from other sources such as business rates and government grants. In determining the level of Council Tax payable, the Cabinet has borne in mind the difficult economic and financial climate that many of our residents currently face. However Council funding from Central Government has declined sharply during the period 2010 to 2023 although there has been increased funding since 2020-2021 (to deal with COVID-19 Pandemic and various crises since). There is also further uncertainty over future funding levels after March 2025. With this in mind, the Council has to consider what level of increase in Council Tax is sustainable, without creating an increased risk of service cuts and/or larger tax increases in the future. The average Council Tax you will pay for services provided by the District Council is £199.83 for a Band D taxpayer equating to £3.84 per week. This is an increase of £5.80 over last year.
Service delivery
The Council aims to maintain the delivery and high standard of its services to residents, protecting front line services within the reduced funding available. The Council has no funding gap in 2023-24 although we have increased costs due to increase inflation driving up pay increases and cost of any 3rd party services such as waste collection and leisure services. The Council continues to review alternative methods of delivery of services through some services being provided through partnership and shared working arrangements, reducing costs and creating efficiencies of service.
The Council expects to employ 9 full time equivalent staff in 2023-2024. The Council transferred the majority of its staff to Publica Group Ltd in November 2017. This is a company wholly owned by Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Cheltenham Borough Council to deliver services on their behalf.
The Council has not used any contribution from the Future Deficits Reserve to support the budget in 2023-2024 and is able to strengthen this reserve this financial year. There are planned savings within the 2023-2024 budget as well as use of other reserves such as the Covid-19 reserve to cover ongoing costs and lost income due to the pandemic. Full details of the savings and additional income are contained within the Council’s 2023-2024 budget setting papers dated 16 February 2023, available on the Council’s website.
There is still a need to move to a more commercial model, both from a services and asset aspect. Part of our drive towards financial sustainability includes identifying new opportunities to generate income and invest in projects which provide good financial returns and regeneration of areas within the District ensuring industries and jobs remain in the District now and long into the future. We will work with partners who share our ambition and values and will continue to put the best interests of Forest residents at the heart of everything we do. In 2021/22, the Council was awarded £20m worth of capital investment in order to deliver projects at Hartpury College and University, Five Acres and Cinderford. This is in order to provide additional educational opportunities, job and investment in the Forest of Dean to Level up the Future of the Forest. These projects are now well on their way to delivering the benefits that were included in the bid and the Councils capital programme shows these projects clearly.
Working together to plan for the Forest of Dean’s future
A formal budget consultation took place during December 2022 and January 2023. Interested parties including businesses, tenants, residents, staff and trade unions were encouraged to comment on the budget proposals.
Spending plans 2023-24
|
Spending |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
|
|
£000 |
£000 |
|
Finance, Business Support & Jobs |
4,207 |
4,327 |
|
Planning Policy, Performance, Shared Working & Climate Emergency |
471 |
542 |
|
Housing, Town & Parish Councils (inc Town Centre development) |
(89) |
189 |
|
Governance, Sport & Leisure, Tourism, Arts & Communities (inc Community Safety) |
655 |
681 |
|
Development, Asset Management, FEP & Infrastructure |
813 |
705 |
|
Environment, Wildlife, Heritage & Culture (inc waste & recycling & AONB Designation) |
3,530 |
3,738 |
|
Policy & Strategy, Cross Border Issues, Future Generations & Health & Well Being |
1,774 |
2,101 |
|
Levies and Special Expenses |
48 |
53 |
|
Asset Management Adjustment |
(290) |
(335) |
|
Parish Precepts |
2,745 |
2,994 |
|
Net Spending |
13,865 |
14,995 |
|
which is partly funded by: |
|
|
|
Specific Reserves |
(1,324) |
36 |
|
Which means we have a budget requirement of |
12,541 |
15,031 |
|
which is financed by: |
|
|
|
Government Grants |
2,581 |
(3,446) |
|
New Homes Bonus |
702 |
(722) |
|
Business Rates Retained |
571 |
(1,564) |
|
Collection Fund Surplus |
86 |
(183) |
|
Which leaves council taxpayers to pay |
8,601 |
9,116 |
|
FODDC |
5,856 |
6,122 |
|
Parish Precepts |
2,745 |
2,994 |
|
|
8,601 |
9,116 |
How our budget compares with last year
|
Budget Comparison |
£000 |
|
|
|
|
Budget Requirement 2022/23 |
12,541 |
|
Inflation & Contractual Changes |
1,840 |
|
Parish Precepts |
249 |
|
Savings |
(1,080) |
|
Changes in spending on services |
121 |
|
Movements in reserves & balances |
1,360 |
|
Budget Requirement 2023/24 |
15,031 |
For further information on the budget including a full list of improved services and savings please contact Financial Services on 01594 810000. A full breakdown of the Forest of Dean budget is available at: https://meetings.fdean.gov.uk/ and the Gloucestershire County Council budget is available at: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/.
Town and Parish Council Precepts
Town and Parish Councils issue a precept which is the amount of money they require from Council Tax payers in their area. The District Council works out the amount for each tax band which is shown on your bill with the percentage change from the previous year. Precepts for 2022-23 and 2023-24 are shown below. More detailed information for town and parish councils where the precept exceeds £140,000 can be found on the individual town/parish website links to which can be found here: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/pay-council-tax/where-your-council-tax-goes/
|
Parish |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Alvington |
9,710 |
10,001 |
|
Awre |
16,660 |
16,660 |
|
Aylburton |
17,313 |
18,092 |
|
Blaisdon |
3,765 |
3,840 |
|
Bromsberrow |
8,200 |
8,282 |
|
Churcham |
12,667 |
12,250 |
|
Cinderford |
410,882 |
477,131 |
|
Coleford |
450,000 |
465,000 |
|
Corse |
6,565 |
7,221 |
|
Drybrook |
32,638 |
33,618 |
|
Dymock |
25,000 |
27,000 |
|
English Bicknor |
4,165 |
4,250 |
|
Gorsley & Kilcot |
5,950 |
6,200 |
|
Hartpury |
10,315 |
10,315 |
|
Hewelsfield/Brockweir |
9,243 |
9,243 |
|
Huntley |
21,118 |
25,196 |
|
Kempley |
6,180 |
6,271 |
|
Littledean |
39,419 |
40,207 |
|
Longhope |
25,200 |
27,720 |
|
Lydbrook |
22,000 |
25,000 |
|
Lydney Town |
635,122 |
682,715 |
|
Mitcheldean |
95,267 |
108,604 |
|
Newent Town |
318,849 |
354,433 |
|
Newland |
28,300 |
28,870 |
|
Newnham |
41,155 |
41,155 |
|
Oxenhall |
|
|
|
Pauntley |
5,800 |
6,000 |
|
Redmarley |
12,166 |
13,500 |
|
Ruardean |
17,571 |
19,695 |
|
Rudford & Highleadon |
4,200 |
4,410 |
|
Ruspidge & Soudley |
49,030 |
54,890 |
|
St. Briavels |
24,000 |
24,648 |
|
Staunton (Coleford) |
15,000 |
15,000 |
|
Staunton (Glos) |
6,868 |
7,868 |
|
Taynton |
4,125 |
3,750 |
|
Tibberton |
8,696 |
8,613 |
|
Tidenham |
107,271 |
113,354 |
|
Upleadon |
3,000 |
3,500 |
|
West Dean |
180,176 |
216,211 |
|
Westbury-On-Severn |
32,000 |
32,000 |
|
Woolaston |
19,535 |
21,684 |
|
|
2,745,121 |
2,994,397 |
Special expenses
Expenses relating to closed churchyards are treated as special expenses and charged to the relevant parishes. There is currently one town and one parish to which this applies.
|
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
||
|
£ |
£ |
||
|
Newent Town Council |
Precept |
2,160.00 |
2,850 |
|
Band D |
0.97 |
1.24 |
|
|
Lydbrook Parish Council |
Precept |
3,500.00 |
3,600 |
|
Band D |
4.80 |
4.86 |