Rutland County Council's budget for the coming year was voted through by the majority of councillors last night.
Three conservatives did abstain, citing a lack of certainty in some proposals. A plan to review parking charges in September doesn't cite any specific increase, but instead points to a policy to decide charges. Councillors said they wanted certainty and transparency for their residents. The budget did include a council tax rise of 2. 99 percent, with 2 percent for adult social care, as expected. Deputy leader Andrew Johnson says he's proud of the work done by officers as they continue to work through a transformation of services to deliver them at lower cost, and that the government is giving Rutland the worst deal of any council in the country.
"From the feedback we have had, we are getting the worst deal in terms of government support than any other local authority. Rural councils like ours are seeing their funding reduced as the government favours urban councils and those with higher deprivation. The particular problems caused by rurality do not feature in current government thinking. It is for this reason that the budget includes an assumption that council tax will rise by the full 4.99% that we're allowed to raise without a referendum. This is regrettable but necessary. This year some 81% of our general income has to be funded by council tax which is the highest percentage in the country. Without this increase in council tax our funding will be going backwards. We do not want to place an extra burden on our council taxpayers by the imposition of a further rise but have no alternative if we are to meet the demands placed on us for the services we are required to deliver."
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