Corporate
Council budget for 2023-24 to be considered by Cabinet
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The public consultation on Walsall Council’s budget for 2023-24 closed on Sunday 15 January 2023 and the final budget will be considered by Cabinet at 6pm on Wednesday 8 February 2023.
The public consultation on Walsall Council’s budget for 2023-24 closed on Sunday 15 January 2023 and the final budget will be considered by Cabinet at 6pm on Wednesday 8 February 2023, before full Council considers and approves the budget on Thursday 23 February 2023.
The proposed budget has been updated to reflect changes in core and local funding and to reflect changes made by Cabinet after consideration of feedback from public consultation.
This is a balanced budget for 2023-24, subject to the outcome of the final Settlement in February 2023, and includes proposals for spending, efficiencies and council tax.
Click here to read the papers for the Cabinet meeting.
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 has decided not to implement the Adult Social Care Precept of an additional 2%, which would have increased council tax to 4.99%
This 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 the draft capital programme and significant capital investment of around £415 million is planned 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.
“ I know that many families are struggling and affected by the cost-of-living crisis. We’ve listened to the views of residents and as a result limited the increase in council tax to 2.99% and we will not be taking up the option of a further 2% rise this year.
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. Yes, the financial situation remains challenging but despite all this we will be delivering 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 we are moving forward with exciting plans for the Borough.
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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).
The papers for the Cabinet meeting can be found here.
- 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 -
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