What we have planned for this year / Our spending plans for 2022 to 23
Council Tax is the main source of locally-raised income for the District Council and it is used to meet the difference between the amount we wish to spend and the amount we receive from other sources such as business rates and government grants.
Over the last 10 years, we have seen our Government grants repeatedly cut. In order to keep increases to your council tax bill as low as possible we have worked hard to make savings by increasing the efficiency of the services that we deliver to you.
Last year we were able to save over £569,000 through efficiencies and doing things differently, and we expect to save over £240,000 this year. Just one example of the ways we are achieving these savings is reducing the amount of carbon sourced power used in our buildings, this will save around £50,000 each year.
We can’t do it all through savings and we are going to have to increase the amount of Council Tax you will pay in 2022/23. The amount will be increasing by 10p a week for a Band D taxpayer, that is £5 per year.
Our service delivery
Although we only receive 10p from every £1 of your Council Tax bill, we are able to provide the following services:
- Waste and recycling collection
- Leisure services
- Parking and public toilets
- Promoting economic growth and regeneration
- Support for homeless people
- Street cleaning
- Street warden service
- Housing and council tax support
- Planning and building control
- Environmental health and licensing services
- Election administration
Additional actions to support our plans for this year also include:
- Creating new roles to support the Climate Change Action Plan enabling us to step up our actions in response to the declared Climate Emergency
- Supporting the Levelling Up projects, including the regeneration of Five Acres into a centre for sporting excellence
- Continuing the regeneration of Lydney Harbour
- Improving disabled facilities to enable independent living for those in need
- Continue bringing in more affordable homes for residents in the district
- Continue supporting our local economy as it recovers from the pandemic, and helping new businesses and social enterprises get up and running with our grant schemes
Our spending plan for 2022-23
|
Spending |
2021/22 £000 |
2022/23 £000 |
|---|---|---|
|
Finance, Business Support & Jobs |
3,969 |
4,207 |
|
Planning Policy, Performance, Shared Working & Climate Emergency |
309 |
471 |
|
Housing, Town & Parish Councils (inc Town Centre development) |
(142) |
(89) |
|
Governance, Sport & Leisure, Tourism, Arts & Communities (inc Community Safety) |
716 |
655 |
|
Development, Asset Management, FEP & Infrastructure |
564 |
813 |
|
Environment, Wildlife, Heritage & Culture (inc waste & recycling & AONB Designation) |
3,695 |
3,530 |
|
Policy & Strategy, Cross Border Issues, Future Generations & Health & Well Being |
1,679 |
1,774 |
|
Levies and Special Expenses |
44 |
48 |
|
Asset Management Adjustment |
(310) |
(290) |
|
Parish Precepts |
2,578 |
2,745 |
|
Net Spending |
13,102 |
13,865 |
|
which is partly funded by: |
|
|
|
Specific Reserves |
(1,906) |
(1,324) |
|
Which means we have a budget requirement of |
11,196 |
12,541 |
|
which is financed by: |
|
|
|
Government Grants |
1,570 |
2,581 |
|
New Homes Bonus |
617 |
702 |
|
Business Rates Retained |
796 |
571 |
|
Collection Fund Surplus |
14 |
86 |
|
Which leaves council taxpayers to pay |
8,199 |
8,601 |
|
FODDC |
5,621 |
5,856 |
|
Parish Precepts |
2,578 |
2,745 |
|
|
8,199 |
8,601 |
How our budget compares with last year
| Budget Comparison | £000 |
|---|---|
| Budget Requirement 2021/22 | 11,196 |
| Inflation & Contractual Changes | 547 |
| Parish Precepts | 167 |
| Savings | (437) |
| Changes in spending on services | 486 |
| Movements in reserves & balances | 582 |
| Budget Requirement 2022/23 | 12,541 |