B&NES Council's budget proposals have been released this week, with Council Tax due to be frozen for the fourth year running. The 2014/15 budget will be the second year of a three-year budget plan and the Lib-Dem-run Council concedes that 'there are financial challenges to overcome in the final year of our budget planning in 2015/16'. These challenges being, amongst other things, the row over Children's Centres and the CAB. There are, however, two main ideas that have been announced which may make residents take note.
The first is to invest £1.3 million of the budget into the Midsomer Norton Business Centre, located on the Enterprise Park in the town. The Council owns the building and sublets to Business West, which manages it as a small business and conference centre, with 5,000 square feet of managed office space. The Council estimates that, subject to an extensive feasibility study and business case, this centre could potentially be doubled in size, creating, it forecasts, 100 new jobs for the town. Any plan, however, would need to address the issue of parking to ensure there were adequate spaces available. Councillor Paul Crossley, (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of the Council, said: "The Cabinet is committed to investing in new jobs for local people and we want to explore the possibility of expanding the Midsomer Norton Business Centre. I must stress that the idea is at an early stage and the business case for expansion must be watertight, but we are proposing to set aside money in the Cabinet budget proposal.
James Monk, Director of Commercial Services at Business West, said: "The Business Centre is an established, successful enterprise centre and has consistently achieved high occupancy rates for its easy-in, easy-out serviced offices. Extending the office space would allow us to secure the long-term future of this vital business resource in the area, providing essential support for new and existing tenants, as well as stimulating the growth of entrepreneurial business in the local economy."
The second proposal on the table is a £200,000 boost for a pilot property flood protection scheme for Chew Magna, which could help to protect 69 homes. This money would make use of protection measures, such as flood boards and automatic airbricks, aimed at reducing flood risk and limiting damage by floodwaters.
In partnership with the Environment Agency, the Council will now be working to help install enhanced measures in homes, such as dewatering pumps or further barriers. Results of reports carried out will then guide which measures are used. Householders will also be able to present the report to insurers.
Rachel Wilson, Co-chair of the Chew Valley Flood Forum, said: "We very much welcome further support in flood protection measures in Chew Magna. Since the flooding in 2012 and the continual uncertainty of our weather systems, residents continually live with the fear of homes flooding every time it rains."
The Council maintains that further budget proposals will be 'investing in the future, supporting the most vulnerable and providing a balanced budget that avoids heavy cuts'. It reports that over the three-year plan period, the Council will have had its Government funding reduced by £16.8 million, with 'financial challenges continuing for many years to come'. Through 'being prudent and financially responsible', the Council seems to keep finding spare cash, such as the recent £1.6 million highlighted by the Conservatives, the extra £500,000 that was found for Children's Centres and £107,000 each year for two years for the adult advice and information strategy. An additional capital investment of a proposed value of £15 million is also available to deliver community improvements on top of those agreed in February 2013, to address issues local people think are important, such as improving road surfaces.
Other key budget points are the £89 million B&NES is investing in regeneration projects, such as Keynsham and Radstock and off-street parking charges frozen for the fourth year running. An extra £220,000 has also been allocated to support the upgrade of selected public conveniences and £100,000 for Public Protection.
The West of England City Region Deal offers the Council the opportunity to access part of an overall package of investment worth £1 billion over 25 years to support economic growth. Speaking of the budget as a whole, Councillor Crossley said: "The Bath City of Enterprise Area, regeneration of Keynsham town centre and rejuvenation of the Somer Valley towns are mouth-watering opportunities that the Cabinet is striving to achieve to deliver new homes, new jobs and greater prosperity for people.
"Whilst delivering our regeneration plans, we maintain our focus on supporting the most vulnerable adults, children and families in society, reflected in the fact that fifty pence in every pound of Council Tax that we collect is spent on vulnerable people, young and old."
The Cabinet proposals will be discussed on 12th February, at 6.30 p.m. in the Guildhall. The final decision lies with the Council on 18th February, again at 6.30 p.m. in the Guildhall.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have published a list of services they want to see protected, as well as areas of spending they say need to be treated as higher priority. The results are from an online survey and include greater protection of at-risk services such as Children's Centres, Citizens Advice and Social Care, more investment in road repairs, cleaner streets and public transport, 'pump-priming' funding for affordable housing and economic regeneration schemes and greater efficiency savings from a slimmed-down management structure.
Speaking this week, Cllr John Bull (Leader of B&NES Labour Group) said: "The self-congratulatory comments from the B&NES Lib-Dem Cabinet ignore the fact that they are still cutting £1.8m from Children's Services and implementing new charges to vulnerable people, especially the elderly, who are now having to pay for alarms in their sheltered accommodation."