Corporate
Budget for 2023-24 approved by Walsall Council
Published on
Walsall Council’s budget for 2023-24 was approved by full Council on Thursday 23 February 2023.
The Council’s budget sets out:
An increase of 2.99% for council tax. This is in line with Government core referendum limits announced in the Autumn Statement on Thursday 17 November 2022.
After consulting with residents, the Cabinet decided not to implement the Adult Social Care Precept of an additional 2%, which would have increased council tax to 4.99% which means that in 2023-24, the average Band D Council Tax will see an increase of 16 pence per day.
This budget details significant investment of £48.7 million of revenue growth and investment going into council services in 2023-24. This includes:
- £26.8 million of demand, demographic and price changes within children’s and adult social care.
- £4.1 million of other services demand and cost pressures, including fall out of external funding, reductions in fees and charges income, and investment in IT infrastructure.
- £15.6 million of corporate provisions to cover the costs of pay awards and pension auto-enrolment, capital investment to fund regeneration projects within the Borough, cost of living inflationary costs such as energy, fuel and other supplies and services costs.
- £2.2 million of investment linked to delivering the Council’s Proud transformation activity.
Also outlined in the budget is a significant capital investment of around £415 million for the Borough over the four years to 2026-27.
The budget also sets some £15.7 million of savings and efficiencies for 2023-24, delivered through changing and improving the Council’s ways of working methods, including increasing the use of technology and digitalisation to streamline processes and reduce costs, taking a more commercial approach to income generation, and managing future demand for services.
“ This budget reflects the views of our residents and as a Council we have prioritised areas that reflect the current cost of living crisis. Our decision not to take the option to raise Council Tax by a further 2% has been approved and I hope this goes some way to help ease the struggles that our residents are facing.
At a time when the Council is facing increasing financial pressures, we’re seeing increasing demand for our services alongside rising inflation and energy bills, and only limited certainty over funding. While the financial situation remains challenging, we now have a balanced budget with significant levels of investment in services and regeneration within the Borough.
The recent award of £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund for the development of Willenhall Garden City is positive news and I look forward to seeing lots of exciting plans come to fruition
“
Notes to editors:
The Corporate Budget Plan 2023-24 to 2026-7, incorporating the Capital Strategy and the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy 2023-25 is now available to view on the Council’s Committee Management and Information System (CMIS).
Budget setting timetable of key reporting dates: Receipt of the final settlement expected 8 February 2023. Recommendation of the final budget to Council by Cabinet on 8 February 2023. Council set the final budget envelope (statutory determinations) and Council Tax and capital programme on 23 February 2023.
For more information about the Council’s vision, values and key areas of focus, please read Walsall Council’s Plan 2022-25
