Rotherham councillors are considering proposals that could result in the lowest council tax rise in over a decade, and the fifth consecutive year-on-year percentage decrease – despite continuing pressure on public finances
A report to Rotherham Borough Council’s Cabinet will consider a proposed increase of 2.7 per cent for 2010/2011, which compares with increases of 4.9 per cent, 4.8 per cent, 3.8 per cent and 2.9 per cent in the previous four years.
This would mean a council tax payment for Rotherham properties in Band D of £1,230, although 80 per cent of people living in the borough – Bands A to C - would pay less than this.
The report to next week’s Cabinet meeting (February 24) also proposes a number of service investments to be considered as part of the 2010/2011 budget-setting process, to protect vital community services during the economic downturn.
In particular, the proposals include £3.1 million additional investment in safeguarding children and young people, along with other major investment in services for older people (£1.3 million) and local communities, via Area Assemblies (£140,000).
Leader of the Council, Councillor Roger Stone, said that council’s budget proposals would build on the council’s success in recent years in delivering efficiency gains, and reducing the cost of support services and other overheads.
“Our job is to balance the need for essential frontline services whilst keeping the council tax to an absolute minimum – which we have achieved for the past five years,” he said. “This has, however, been a difficult budget round, and we still have more work to do before we finalise our spending plans.”
The authority’s biggest proposed investment would be in Children and Young People’s Services, where funding would help support a range of services, particularly those working to ensure children are safe and well cared for. Proposals include:
- Funding for more than 30 staff working in the service’s Locality Teams which provide multi-agency support across the borough
- Support for those children and young people who, for a variety of reasons, need to cared for outside Rotherham
- New investment to further enhance staffing in the borough’s children’s homes
- New technology to improve access to social care systems and information
In addition to this, £105 million is set to come into the borough over the next three years through the national Building Schools for the Future programme, to redevelop the borough’s secondary schools.
This forms part of the council’s wider £289 million capital programme, which also proposes investment to promote the future vitality of the town centre and deliver real improvements to roads, transport and housing, as well as customer access.
Customers will continue to be provided with greater choice and convenience about how they access public services, with the opening of a further two customer service centres, bringing the total to six.
Aston cum Aughton (opening Spring 2010) and Rawmarsh (end of 2010) will provide access to council and health services including GP surgeries, a pharmacy and library services. Sports changing facilities will also be available at Rawmarsh.
Homes and roads could also be in line for investment - £46 million on improving council and other homes across Rotherham, with a further £9 million on building 77 new, affordable houses in Thrybergh, Maltby and West Melton. A £6.5 million, 10-year programme of investment in streetlighting, which began this year, will also continue.
The council has put forward investment of £30 million to improve the structure of the Rotherham road network, and boroughwide bus services would be protected through £367,000 levy to South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.
A total of £265,000 is earmarked to meet the social care needs of adults - £150,000 to help those with complex mental health needs, and £115,000 to safeguard vulnerable adults against abuse.
Carers could also benefit, with proposals for £80,000 to be spent on support, including the provision of 1700 much-needed respite breaks and a new carers centre.
Around 500 more people could potentially have access to assistive technology to keep them safe and independent at home as a result of £225,000 additional investment. A further £300,000 is proposed to support people with physical and sensory impairment to live in their own homes, providing help to 20 more people each week.
Funding will continue to be ploughed into leisure facilities, with the £7.5 million Clifton Park redevelopment; £1.7 million for the restoration of Boston Castle, and £4.8 million for the restoration of Ulley Reservoir.
Local communities will be assisted to develop their own priorities to ensure they receive the services and facilities that matter most to them. It is recommended that Area Assemblies receive devolved budgets totalling £140,000, allowing decisions to be made locally.
The Rotherham Renaissance regeneration of the town centre will also continue, including the development of the new Civic Quarter, with proposed improvements to the townscape heritage and public realm.
The massive £8.5 million facelift for Rotherham railway station will be completed by April 2011, including improvements to the entrance, central road and canalside. Work will also begin on a £3.6 million scheme to open up the riverside area to the rear of Corporation Street, with the provision of 55 underground car parking spaces. Grafton Bridge, part of the £390,000 flood alleviation scheme, has been removed and is being restored, and a £650,000 scheme to improve the Minster Yard and its surroundings will get underway.
Recommendations put forward by the Cabinet will be presented to a Full Council meeting on 3rd March, when both the council budget and the council tax level will be set.