Above the noise of a new road being built in front of the Victoria Hall, in Radstock, those who attended B&NES Council's Budget Fair were warned that 2016/17 will be 'particularly challenging' for the Local Authority. Some will be relieved that there were no new proposals relating to frontline services.
This is the eighth Budget Fair that has taken place locally this year, coming from the Lib-Dems' success story, the Victoria Hall, which was refurbished and put back into use towards the end of 2013.
The Council has already approved a Medium Term Plan covering the three years of 2013/14 – 2015/16, in which it needed to identify £27million in savings – probably one of the biggest issues we have seen during this time being the provision for Children's Services within the area. Councillor David Bellotti, Cabinet Member for Community Resources, was very keen to promote the work the Council has done in saving money, for example, closing council offices that are no longer space or energy efficient.
A further variation of £9 million in savings will be required in 2015/16 to balance the budget, with a draft going to Cabinet in January and a vote due to be taken by all 65 councillors in February. The Budget Fair is part of the consultation process, which sees B&NES speaking with the public, its staff and their unions, before the proposals are looked at by the Council's Development and Scrutiny Panels.
The Lib-Dems say they are on target with plans for the savings of £27million, claiming it has still managed to protect frontline services, with no increase in Council Tax and investing in homes and jobs for local people. However, although the Council could increase Council Tax by 2%, it actually receives 1% from the Government for not doing so.
Any party in power will seemingly need to wean itself off of the Government Revenue Support Grant, which saw a 40% reduction in 2010 and has been going down ever since. Cllr Bellotti said: "Personally speaking, by 2019, I think the Council will need to be self-sufficient from the Government grant. Every political party will want to care for those who need it most. B&NES Council is better placed than most (due to income from Bath tourism). If we can build up enough income, we shouldn't need to cut services.",p.The Council's 2014/15 budget is £315.5 million, spending the most on Adult Social services, £78.83million. The Dedicated Schools Grant, which comes from Government, is £77.8million, with Children's Services spending at £40.93 million. Council Tax revenue comes in at £72.63million and the current Government Revenue Support Grant is £26.47million, which has gone down by a third.
Cllr Bellotti said that the year had brought up a few surprises, including the £2.6million needed to repair the landslide at Kelston Road, expected to reopen this month, but that the Council's reserves are in good shape to cope with this. Other projects being worked on include the Bath Flood Mitigation plans, with a need to look at river safety, plus the Bath Transport Package, the Gypsy Traveller site on the Lower Bristol Road and the completion of Keynsham's regeneration project – with the two main units in the town having now been let to Sainsbury's and Bristol-based Loungers, who own the Cosy Club chain of restaurants and bars.
Potential challenges for 2015/16 include the new Care Act, which puts a limit on the amount those in need will have to pay towards the costs of their care, meaning the Council will have to provide support if people match a set of criteria – and it will need to put more aside for this. The Council says it should receive extra income from increased business rates and an improving Council Tax base, with all of the new homes being built in the area.
Cllr Bellotti said the Council will be maintaining the Social Fund for 2015/16, a new expenditure of £250,000 to help alleviate local poverty. So far, 1,100 families have applied, with 850 helped – with vouchers for clothes, food or white goods. He said: "In every ward, there is an underbelly of poverty and we want to lead by example. We are blessed with low unemployment in this area, but the cost of housing is high and incomes are fairly average. The Council has done an awful lot for growth and business, but we must not leave behind a current of people who need our help."
The Lib-Dems are also proposing to remove some lower pay bands to help the lower paid, although Cllr Bellotti admitted that this does put pressure on the bands above; ensuring Zero Hours Contracts are not used directly by the Council, to be abolished by April 2015; work alongside Social Housing Landlord, Curo, to help with issues surrounding Pay Day Loans; supporting local Food Banks, developing the Connecting Families programme, which helps over 100 families with complex needs, and work to reduce adult and youth unemployment.
The main concerns raised by those attending the meeting included the need to invest in broadband for rural areas, which is still suffering, despite investment. Parking in Radstock was also raised, as well as a call by Labour Councillor for Paulton, Liz Hardman, for B&NES to adopt the Living Wage, dismissed by Cllr Bellotti as an "old fashioned Trade Union concept."
Of course, come the General Election, all of the above may go completely out of the window. Cllr Bellotti concluded the meeting by warning that any "new ideas in the future will need to be paid for."