Council budget

What services does the council provide?

The council is one of the largest employers in the area, with over 10,000 employees, who provide over 600 services to over 143,000 households and businesses in towns, villages and hamlets covering some 930 square miles.  

These include social care for the elderly and vulnerable, the construction and maintenance of roads, parks and other infrastructure, planning and building control services, waste collection, environmental health services, the provision of schools, libraries and museums, as well as many other local services.

Like all large public sector organisations, we manage our resources very carefully and aim to do more with less money.  Since 2010, the government has reduced our funding significantly and we have had to make tough decisions in order to meet this challenge.

What is the Council's approved 2022-23 budget and four year financial plan?

The approved business plan and financial plan for the period 2022-23 to 2025-26 incorporating the 2022-23 revenue budget is set out in the documents below.

The minutes show the changes proposed by the Conservative Group at the Full Council meeting, which were approved and implemented as part of the budget for 2022-23.

Council Minutes 10 February 2022 (pdf 111kb)

Business Plan 2020-25 and Financial Plan 2022-23 to 2025-26 (pdf 4mb)

Can business rate payers respond to the council's budget proposals?

Under Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the council has a legal duty to consult with business ratepayers concerning the council's draft budget proposals. 

This consultation was in place until 31 January 2022 and has now closed.