Bracknell

Council tax in Bracknell Forest will rise by 4.9% as the Council works to balance its books amid increasing demand for its services and a disappointing Government grant.

Councillors on the Bracknell Executive agreed to recommend the increase at a meeting last night (Tuesday). The Council's budget proposals will now go before a meeting of the full Council on February 28 before being finalised.

The decision came after 60% of residents surveyed by the Council during its budget consultation said they would be willing to pay at least a 5% increase in council tax to protect the level of services provided.

If the proposals are agreed by Bracknell Council, it would mean the average band D council tax in the borough would be £964.89 for the year. The average for all councils in England in 2006/07 was £1,252.

The Council has consistently had one of the lowest actual council taxes in England and the 4.9% rise will ensure that this remains the case. The low council tax was recognised by residents in the recent survey with 69% believing the Council provides value for money for the council tax they pay.

Cllr Paul Bettison, leader of Bracknell Council, said: "We will continue to work hard to continue to provide local residents with good quality, value for money services in the coming year."

It has been another difficult year for the Council's budget. The Government grant the Council received is increased by just 1.7%, well below the rate of inflation.

At the same time Bracknell Council saw a big rise in demand for the important services it provides for vulnerable children and adults and rising costs in these areas.

The budget proposals include £2.5 million savings including ways to modernise and continue to improve the efficiency of council services.

It also includes the use of £2.8 million balances, the money the Council has "in the bank", to fund services in the coming year.

Timothy Wheadon, Bracknell Chief Executive, said: "This year we have used more of our balances than might otherwise have been the case because we did not want to make irreversible cuts ahead of the vote by tenants about whether the housing stock should transfer to a new, local housing association.

"However, this is a one off decision as when the balances are gone, the only option will be to make cuts in expenditure."

Every year the Council delivers a wide range of services for those who live, work and study in the borough.

The overall day-to-day cash spending of the Council is outlined below:

Education, Children’s Services and Libraries

£14.9 million will be spent on support for Bracknell borough’s schools, maintaining and improving local libraries and providing social care to children and young people with disabilities, those who need fostering and adoption services as well as those who need other protection and support. We will also be working to provide more before and after school services this year as well as developing children’s centres for those who are not yet at school.

Bracknell Environment and Leisure

£20.7 million will be spent on protecting, maintaining and improving our local environment by providing street cleaning and landscaping services, highway and footpath repairs, refuse and recycling collections, waste disposal, planning and building control services. We will also be providing public protection through environmental health and trading standards services.

We will continue to provide popular leisure facilities such as Coral Reef Waterworld, the Look Out Discovery Centre, Downshire Golf Complex and Bracknell Leisure Centre.

Bracknell Social Services and Housing

£21.3 million will be spent on providing support to vulnerable adults, older people and those with disabilities including home support, the blue badge parking scheme, Heathlands residential home, the Downside resource centre and the Look In café.We will also provide help and advice to those looking for social housing and a service for those who are homeless.

Bracknell Corporate Services

£15.9 million will be spent in the coming year including improving our customer services, maintaining our website and enabling services online www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will also make sure we are getting the best value for money from our services and efficiently manage our land and property and investments.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council