Councillors set Tamworth Borough Council’s council tax and budget for 2024/25
- Council tax increase of only 2.95%, despite significant inflationary pressures
- For most, that is less than 10pence a week increase
- Increase due to inflationary cost increases
At Full Council on Tuesday 27 February, Councillors approved the Tamworth Borough Council 2024/25 council tax level and budget.
Council tax increase has been set at 2.95 per cent, which unlike many local authorities is under the maximum permitted by law. The budget will be supported by a council tax increase of £4.52 - £5.81 per year on the average B and D property. For the majority of Tamworth residents who live in properties below band D, the rise will be less than 10p per week.
The increase reflects inflationary cost increases to the council. However, councillors have still made crucial decisions to improve council services and increase spending in areas such as town centre regeneration, increased funding for home adaptions for disabled residents, events to support town economy, expansion of the StreetScene team to increase work tidy and care for our borough and its green spaces, improving play areas, damp and mould works on council properties and more. Plus, a new council tax reduction scheme has been introduced, which will increase financial support to those most financially vulnerable within Tamworth communities.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Thomas Jay said: “The prevailing economic climate has increased financial pressures on all public sector bodies and here in Tamworth we’re no exception.
“The challenge to the organisation is not only how to survive in this period of uncertainty but how to continue to both provide and develop high quality services for the communities it serves.
“I’m, proud that once again we have set a strong budget; one that continues to prioritise the things that are important to local people and one that balances over three years.
“Some positive highlights of the new budget include council tax increase is under the maximum permitted despite inflationary pressures. We will also see increased grants for third sector organisations in our town, a new council tax reduction scheme supporting those who need it the most, plus increased funding for home adaptations for disabled residents.”
Around 10p in every pound in council tax is retained by Tamworth Borough Council which, for the next financial year, will generate £4.75m towards the provision of services by Tamworth Borough Council. The majority remainder of the council tax bill goes to Staffordshire County Council, plus payments to the police and fire authorities.
The money that Tamworth Borough Council collects through council tax helps pay for services such as household waste collection and recycling, street cleansing, and maintaining parks and open spaces, Tamworth Castle, Tamworth Assembly Rooms and outdoor events such as St George’s Day celebrations, archaeology around the castle, fireworks, Christmas lights switch on and the Christmas events.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Thomas Jay, along with his Cabinet, has set out overall plans for general fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue spending, and the five-year general fund and HRA capital spending programme:
There are five primary areas of focus; the environment, the economy, infrastructure, living in Tamworth and the town centre, with a number of goals identified in each priority area.
These include actions such as enforcement and education around litter and fly tipping, developing infrastructure for acting on climate change, protecting and maintaining the green space offer, supporting businesses, improving tourism, further promoting the town’s historic and cultural assets, continuing to develop the street market and supporting events, and improving the night-time economy and infrastructure.
At the heart of the vision is a commitment to continue to prioritise and protect the most vulnerable members of the community.
The vision and priorities will be available to view in full on the council’s website.
Some specific spending headlines from the budget include:
- £7.25m towards regeneration and affordable housing
- £250,000 for the capital repairs programme at the castle
- £500,000 for damp and mould works
- £30,000 per annum for a new ‘Councillor Grants Scheme, with each councillor allocated £1,000 per year for community groups and projects in their wards
- £200,000 of capital investment to refurbish play areas across the borough
- £545,000 for technological upgrades including replacement hardware and system upgrades
- £75,000 per annum for energy efficiency upgrades to commercial and industrial units
- £3.5m over five years for Disabled Facilities Adaptations and £3.25m for Disabled Facilities Grants
- £700,000 over five years for works to balancing ponds