Wiltshire Council confirms 4.5% rise in council tax bills
The authority's approved their budget for the next financial year
Wiltshire Council's agreed to spend £37 million more on services in the next financial year (2025/26).
The local authority has agreed its budget which has been set at just over £527 million.
The Council's also putting up its share of the council tax by 4.5% - although that's not the maximum they could have asked residents for.
That means there'll be £7 million to spend on adult social care to help cover demand and inflation.
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “It is a huge responsibility allocating money for the services that so many people rely on and it’s one we take very seriously. Focusing on our finances is a day by day, month by month task and this forensic attention and looking at the bigger picture is the reason why we are in a position where we can continue to invest to improve our county and support residents.
“We have received significantly less grant money from Government and local government as a whole is facing huge challenges that we are certainly not immune to, but our long-term approach rather than quick fixes means we are in a more positive position than many. We are a council that won’t be using reserves to plug any budget gaps as this can set off a spiral that is so hard to get out of.
"We are a council that doesn’t need to charge people any more than is necessary in council tax. We are a council that provides a strong safety net for those who need us. And we are a council that can be brave and invest, ensuring Wiltshire is a place that people want to live in, work in, set up business in and visit.
“In playing the long game and putting all our focus and resources in prevention it means that we’re at the stage now where that investment in time, money and resource is bearing fruit. This is demonstrated by our recent positive feedback for our adult, children and SEND services, the recognition on the national stage for our innovative enforcement action and our leading Community Conversation programme which is empowering residents to improve their lives.
"We are spending significant money on our roads, leisure, climate the arts and the infrastructure of the county all while living within our means – something we will strive to maintain.”
The most significant areas of Wiltshire Council spend in 2025/26 will be:
• Adult services - £194m
• Families and children - £75m
• Highways and transport – £43.4m
• Environment (including waste) - £49.5m
• Education and skills - £38m
The Council's also put together its budget for the 2025/26 financial year without the need to dip into its reserves and is able to set aside nearly £6 million of Government funding to help support future changes in waste services to meet new requirements.
Their capital programme for 2025/26 has been budgeted at around £253 million, but it's likely that amount will change throughout the year due to timeframes and external influences that the council can't control like inflation.
Some of the capital spend in 2025/26 will include:
• Council house building and stock refurbishment – £40.5m
• SEND provision including Silverwood school – £28.6m
• Structural maintenance and bridges – £16.2m
• Refurbishment of council housing stock – £15.3m
• Trowbridge leisure centre - £14m (with more budgeted for the next two years)
• A350 Chippenham bypass phases 4 & 5 – £13.9m
• Highways investment plan– £10.4m
• Schools' maintenance and modernisation – £8.1m
• Environmental and waste projects - £8.1m
• Wiltshire Ultrafast Broadband and Wiltshire Online – £1.1m