Council aims to increase spending by extra £15million - The Evesham Observer

Council aims to increase spending by extra £15million

Evesham Editorial 22nd Dec, 2019   0

MORE money is set to be invested in social care, roads and pavements reducing traffic congestion in budget proposals put forward by Worcestershire County Council.

The net budget for 2020/21 will be £345million compared to £330million in 2019/20, with the authority saying it will be a balanced budget.

County councils, with responsibility for big ticket items like social care and highways traditionally take the lion’s share of council tax.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the county council leader, said: “Here in Worcestershire we have one of the fastest growing economies in the country creating more homes, jobs and businesses, which is providing the council with a significant increase to our income.




“We are planning to use these funds to invest an extra £18million into children’s and adults social care next year to support those most in need.

“We also want to invest more money on what our residents tell us are most important to them: our roads and pavements, reducing traffic congestion and improving public transport.


“The Budget that we are proposing includes plans for a substantial tree planting scheme. We will be working with the Woodland Trust to plant 150,000 new trees in the county to create new woodland areas that will enhance our environment.

“There are also plans to improve flood mitigation measures as well as upgrading thousands more street lights to more energy-efficient LED lights.”

It is proposed that council tax will be increased next by 3.99 per cent next year with two per cent of the increase ring fenced for adult social care services.

The increase is the equivalent to less than £1 per week for a band D property.

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