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Borough BulletinPublished 25.02.2011 14:38Spelthorne Council agreed the budget for the next financial year (2011/12) at its Council Meeting on 24 February 2011.During his speech at the meeting, Council Leader Cllr John Packman, spoke about how the significant grant cuts have made this the hardest budget the Council has ever had to set. Despite the economic downturn and grant cuts, Spelthorne has managed to extend the Council Tax freeze for a second year. This has been achieved:
by the receipt of a new, additional “Council Tax freeze grant”, which is being paid to councils which set a nil Council Tax increase and
by all services budgets being scrutinised to identify savings and additional sources of income.
The key points from his speech were:
there will be no increase in the Spelthorne Council element of Council Tax for a second year.
the average cost (Band D) of Spelthorne Council’s services is just £3.21 per household per week, similar to the price you would pay for a pint of beer.
for Spelthorne residents this means they will be paying the same Council Tax as last year.
to our part of the Band D Council Tax will be added the precept from Surrey County Council and Surrey Police giving a total of £1,482.20.
the Council had its government grant cut by16% for 2010-11, a reduction of £700,000. It faces a further 10.7% reduction in 2012-13.
the grant funding we will receive will be just £44.75 per head of Spelthorne’s population for 2011-12, this is 24% below the national average of £58.78.
To help make sure the Council’s finances are sustainable, work has already been undertaken to prepare for future financial pressures, such as:
increasing opportunities for partnership working with the public and private sector
sharing the provision of services with Runnymede and Elmbridge - annual saving £200,000
incorporating a Business Improvement Programme to identify ways of working more efficiently
installing energy saving measures at Knowle Green, the Depot and multi-storey car parks
renting out more office space at Knowle Green (rent received this year £100,000+)
councillors and staff remaining on a pay/allowances freeze for the second year
To reflect on what has been achieved despite the difficult financial climate, Cllr Packman spoke about the progress which has been made recently in delivering a number of key projects:
Mitchison Court Housing and Benwell Community Centre, opened in October 2010 – offering a mix of Extra Care housing for those with personal care needs and a community resource.
Stanwell Health and Community Centre – a state of the art centre offering a new home for St David’s Family Practice, Stanwell library, a community café and a pharmacy will be completed later this year.
Stanwell New Start - Phase One of the new housing project in Stanwell has been completed and we are now looking ahead to phases two and three.
Garden waste collection – a successful second collection round was introduced in 2010 with plans for extending the service further in 2011.
Area regeneration – the Ashford, Shepperton and Sunbury Cross town centre improvement projects are expected to be completed by April 2011.
Cllr John Packman said: “By driving down costs we will continue to deliver the same high standard of frontline services. For example, during the cold snap we continued to provide our core services such as refuse collection, Meals on Wheels and Spelride, which many of our residents recognised and on which they complimented us. Our residents can be assured that their Council is in safe hands with a strong financial base to face the future.”All residents will receive further Council Tax information in a leaflet being distributed with their bill at the beginning of March. The leaflet also details information about other Council services.For media enquiries contact the Communications Team on 01784 446373/446370/444260.
