Walsall Council is suggesting a 2.99% general council tax increase, in addition to a 2% precept designated for adult social care in the first draft of its 2024/25 budget. These proposals translate to an extra cost of 16 pence per day (£1.14 per week) for the average Band D property.
Within the budget, there is a draft capital program for 2024/25 with a total allocation of £132.08 million. This budget encompasses substantial investments in regeneration projects, infrastructure improvements, and educational initiatives. It also includes funding for adult and children’s social care, as well as housing support for vulnerable households through the provision of aids and adaptations.
Councillor Mike Bird, Leader of Walsall Council said:
“The council has a statutory responsibility to set a balanced budget and I am confident that our track record of strong and robust financial management will achieve this.
It’s a challenge that all councils are facing because of the unprecedented cost-of-living increases that we are all experiencing, and rising demand on many of our services, particularly within adult social care and children’s services. Our priority remains to deliver a balanced budget for 2024/25 and keep the council tax increase as low as possible. We know that many of our residents are finding it hard and our proposals have taken this into account. If you live, work, study, visit or do business in the Borough, please have your say in our budget consultation.”
The proposed budget also introduces several cost-saving measures. The council’s Proud transformation plan is aimed at enhancing service efficiency and performance while delivering better outcomes for customers. By the end of the current year, the transformation program is projected to have achieved £64 million in savings.
As of now, the budget for 2024/25 is not balanced, with a budget gap of £18.06 million. Strategies will be formulated to close this gap, and a further update is scheduled for presentation to the Cabinet on December 13, 2023. The final 2024/25 budget will be submitted to the Cabinet and subsequently to the Full Council in February 2024. Public consultation on these proposals is now underway.
To review the budget proposals for 2024/25 and participate in the consultation, please visit the following link: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/budget-consultation