An average council tax rise of less than 10p per week per household will be debated by Stroud District Council committee members this week as they prepare to set a budget to benefit the whole district.
The Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee is being asked to recommend to a full Council meeting an increase of £5 to £222.52 at Band D, an increase of less than 10p per week for services provided by Stroud District Council.
Committee members are also being asked to recommend a budget to Council which includes allocations in line with the objectives of The Council Plan, when they meet on Thursday, January 27.
Those new allocations include expanding the number of electric vehicles in its contractor Ubico’s fleet, supporting temporary accommodation to prevent homelessness, investing in children’s play areas, and support for a new tourism post.
Members are also asked to note uncertainty around the impact of changes to future local government funding.
While Stroud District Council collects council tax for Gloucestershire County Council, The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire and parish and town councils in the Stroud district, only around 10% of the bill pays for services provided by Stroud District Council.
“We have a new Council Plan which prioritises environment, community resilience and economy, and I believe this proposed budget will deliver on this as the district deals with the devastating effects of the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Council Leader Doina Cornell, who chairs Strategy and Resources Committee.
The budget will help pay for key services which residents rely on including waste and recycling, planning, environmental health, parking, parks and recreation, leisure centres, The Museum in the Park, canal restoration, animal welfare, benefits administration and advice, elections, youth work, upkeep of open spaces including Selsley Common and Cam Peak and Long Down upkeep, plus licensing and flood management.
Stroud District Council and the district itself were again rated well above the national average in the most recent independently-conducted residents and businesses satisfaction survey, and its new Council Plan focuses on three key areas – Environment & Climate Change Community Resilience and Wellbeing and Economy, Recovery and Regeneration.
If the committee recommends the budget and level of council tax, all 51 elected members of the council will have the final say at Full Council meeting on February 17.