East Suffolk Council
Essential services in difficult times: East Suffolk Council budget approved
East Suffolk Council will spend nearly £40million delivering essential services to the communities of East Suffolk in the coming year.
East Suffolk Council’s budget for the 2022/23 financial year was approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday evening, and as part of its commitment to improve the lives and outcomes of local people, finance has been approved for a range of different areas, including £3.35m for economic development and regeneration, £2.46m supporting and enabling communities and £2.39m for our housing services.
The budget also includes a further £428,000 towards supporting the council's green agenda, as part of East Suffolk’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.
As well as setting a balanced budget, councillors were also invited to agree East Suffolk’s portion of the council tax residents will pay in 2022/23.
One of the key principles of the East Suffolk Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) is to plan for a necessary, acceptable and affordable level of council tax, to ensure financial capacity to deliver policies and objectives.
Therefore, an increase of 2.89% has been agreed, which equates to an additional £4.95 on Band ‘D’ properties for the whole year – bringing in an additional £440,000 to support the delivery of key services.
Council tax payers in equivalent properties will, therefore, pay £176.22 in total to East Suffolk in 2022/23 – or less than £15 per month. The remainder (around 90% of a typical council tax bill) goes to Suffolk County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and town and parish councils.
East Suffolk Council leader, Cllr Steve Gallant said: "Despite huge financial challenges faced by local government in the wake of the Covid pandemic, I am delighted that we are delivering a balanced budget so we can continue providing essential services for residents, and fulfil our ambitions as a council.
“Council tax remains an essential element of the funding we receive to deliver the best possible services and as the cost of the services we deliver rises, we have no alternative other than to approve a small increase.
“However, the council tax-payer will always be at the heart of the financial decisions we make and we are acutely conscious that these are unusual and, for some, difficult times. Therefore, we will work hard to develop more assets and income streams which ultimately reduce our dependency on council tax to support and take care of our communities.”
Last month, East Suffolk Council agreed £49million to be invested in assets, services and infrastructure across East Suffolk over the coming financial year as part of the budget setting process.
The investment formed part of a wider Capital Programme, which also includes new development and investment in existing housing stock, worth just over £339m for the next four years.
Cllr Maurice Cook, East Suffolk Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: "While the last financial year again proved challenging for the finance team at East Suffolk Council, we're looking forward to emerging from the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic and embarking on ambitious plans for the future.
“Like everyone, the council is affected by increases in costs, not least the proposed increase in National Insurance employers’ contributions. Therefore, we are pleased that we’ve been able to keep our council tax rise to a rate below 3%. “I’m also delighted that we have been able to present such a comprehensive programme, investing in all areas of our district.
“So many of the projects in our Capital Programme not only provide new or improved facilities, but also develop more assets and income streams for the council in order for us to prepare, with financial prudence, for whatever may lay ahead.”