"Difficult" draft budget considered by Cornwall's cabinet today
The budget will result in a 4.99% increase in Council Tax rates, which includes a 2% levy to be used for adult social care
A draft budget to protect frontline services and meet residents’ priorities will be considered by Cornwall Council’s Cabinet today.
The budget, which will be considered when the Cabinet meets in the Trelawny Room at County Hall (Lys Kernow) in Truro on Wednesday, will result in a 4.99% increase in Council Tax rates, which includes a 2% levy to be used for adult social care.
Despite the concerns raised by Cornwall Council and many of its rural counterparts, the financial settlement from Government to Cornwall, which saw the wholesale removal of the Rural Services Delivery Grant, means that Cornwall Council must reassess the level of savings needed to deliver a balanced budget.
Figures were confirmed as around £6 million lower than originally expected.
"The most difficult budget"
Cllr David Harris, the deputy leader of Cornwall Council and portfolio holder for resources, said: "This really has been the most difficult budget to put together. It is clear that Government has not listened.
"There is absolutely no recognition that our rurality has been taken into account. In fact, you might be forgiven for thinking that they are actively favouring urban over rural areas, especially as the Rural Services Grant has been scrapped in its entirety.
"When the Government finally confirmed the settlement this week, it confirmed that we have been left £5.1 million short of what we were entitled to expect.
"Not only that, but when the Chancellor announced her new changes to National Insurance contributions from businesses, she gave unreserved assurance that councils would be compensated, yet we have been left £500,000 short, which we have had to find.
"We have avoided making further cuts and hitting services by redistributing some non-ringfenced grant funding and by increasing some fees and charges.
"Difficult choices"
"These are difficult choices we are having to make, but I am confident we are delivering a budget that will protect our frontline services and continue to invest in Cornwall’s future.
"I will continue to urge the Government to end this cycle of endless cuts and savings, and to deliver fairer funding for local government as they have promised to do."
The budget includes an increase of £22 million in the council’s net spending on care for adults and children.
Capital investments include £173 million to create new school places and repair school buildings, investments in appliance replacements for Cornwall Fire and Rescue, continuing to invest in new technology to create modern, low-carbon ways of working, and £1.5 billion on projects to support economic growth, maintain the transport network, and create homes and jobs for local people.