BATH and North East Somerset (B&NES) councillors have voted to approve the council’s spending plans, despite facing cuts of £12.5-million over the next three years.

A net revenue budget of £193.17-million for 2026/27 including a general council tax increase of 2.99 per cent, was approved, and an adult social care precept of the maximum two per cent.

This means an overall increase of £90.97 for a Band D dwelling (£1.75 per week), with council tax for B&NES council rising to £1,914.03 for 2026/27 compared to £1,823.06 in 2025/26.

The budget proposals were approved by 46 votes in favour, to six against and three abstentions.

Much of the debate at the authority’s budget-setting meeting however was focused on the impact of the government’s “Fair Funding” review which will see B&NES lose £12.5-million a year by 2028/29.

Councillor Mark Elliott, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for resources, commented: “I’m proud to present to council a balanced budget proposal that, despite £12.5-million of funding cuts over the next three years, protects frontline services, and invests in the things that matter to the residents of B&NES.

“However, this year’s budget setting has been unnecessarily complicated by the government’s Fair Funding reforms and the way they have been handled.

“In three years’ time, we are going to be £12.5-million worse off every year than we would have been without these changes. We have not responded by panic-cutting, but this will place a huge amount of pressure on the council over the coming years.”

Liberal Democrat councillors highlighted the importance of ‘prevention’ as a theme of the budget proposals, with early investment intended to produce better outcomes for residents, as well as long-term savings.

Cllr Elliott added: “The biggest pressures on councils, nationally and locally, are social care pressures. Our proposals highlight the scale of budget growth required, a net increase of nearly £6.4m in social care funding overall.

“Our strong focus with that increased spending will be on prevention. The only way to arrest these huge inflationary pressures across the council, whether in social care or in any of the other services the council delivers, will be to intervene earlier, in an effort to prevent higher costs materialising later.

“This is the difference between a responsible administration and performative politics. We have not pretended that the pressures don’t exist. We have not built a fantasy budget.

“We have been honest with ourselves and with the public. We have sought to protect our most vulnerable residents, and we have still brought forward a lawful, balanced plan for next year.”

Councillor Manda Rigby, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for communications and community, said: “Prevention is the most effective and cost-efficient way to reduce long term demand on our services.

“These are investments that we as Lib Dems are making that will build safer communities, reduce long term demand on statutory services, and deliver better outcomes for residents, ultimately improving people’s lives.”