County Council approves 2017/18 budget

 Buckinghamshire County Council’s budget for 2017/18 has been approved by councillors.

Leader Martin Tett said the budget was the ‘result of the prudent decisions taken during a real period of uncertainty’.

He told councillors at full council on Thursday: “We have not only reshaped the council and its services, which has saved us over £100m over the past five years, but we have also been more commercial, with income now over £70 million per annum and targeted to increase by another £7 million next year.

“This budget offers Buckinghamshire the stability which is so vital when planning services and puts us on a sure footing for the future – whatever that may hold.”

Standard council tax will rise by 1.99%, while the Council has also agreed to implement the Government’s 3% social care precept which will go towards the spiralling cost of adult social care.

Council tax remains below the average for county councils in the country and the rise amounts to an £1.11p increase per week for Band D rate payers.

This is the last year the Council will receive the Revenue Support Grant, which only four years ago amounted to 18.6% of the budget.

The budget was passed by a vote of 38 to 2.

For further information please contact: Adam King, on 01296 383401 or out of hours on 07825430978