90% of debt accrued across Devon to be written off
The county council's welcomed the decision by the Government, but it's also called for better funding to help run the service going forwards
Devon County Council has warned that the latest government funding settlement places a greater financial burden on local taxpayers due to increased reliance on council tax to fund essential services.
The council noted that while its Core Spending Power might appear to increase during the settlement period, most of this rise depends on assuming council tax hikes rather than additional government grants.
According to the council, this pattern has developed since 2015, with central funding failing to keep pace with mounting demand and associated costs, particularly affecting rural counties like Devon where service delivery across large areas poses unique challenges.
Devon County Council noted that councils can raise council tax by up to 4.99% annually, including the adult social care precept, though any increase beyond this would require a local referendum.
Councillor James Buczkowski, Cabinet Member for Finance, said, “This settlement leans heavily on council tax, particularly for counties like Devon. While some reforms are welcome, the funding still does not fully reflect the real cost of delivering vital frontline services across a rural area.”
Devon County Council’s Cabinet will deliberate on the proposed budget at its meeting on 17th February, followed by a Full Council meeting to formally approve the budget on 24th February.
In separate news, Devon County Council expressed appreciation for the government’s decision to cover 90% of local authorities’ historic Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) deficits.
The council believes this funding will fortify financial stability in SEND, enabling better allocation of resources to support children and young people effectively.
“Today’s decision helps to relieve some of that pressure in SEND, and that is good news for families across Devon,” Councillor Buczkowski said.
However, the council highlighted ongoing financial pressures, particularly in adult social care, children's services, and service delivery across the expansive rural county.
Devon County Council will assess the full implications of the SEND funding announcement as part of its budget-setting process for 2026, with the draft budget to be considered by the Cabinet on 17th February and finalized by the Full Council on 24th February.