 | Wiltshire Council Budget and Spending Plans 2009/10 |
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Wiltshire Council Budget and Spending Plans 2009/10
We all depend on public services. Schools, roads and public transport, street lighting, refuse disposal, libraries, allowances and benefits, and care for the elderly and vulnerable are vital ingredients for the smooth functioning of our society. This year, your new unitary council will provide these services and has set a gross budget of £836.8 million to meet your priorities.
Spending Pressures for 2009-10
Each year places unique demands on the limited funds your Council has available to provide the County’s services. Increased costs in Care Provision, due to more elderly people and more people with mental health problems requiring assistance, increased costs of disposing of waste due to Landfill Tax rises and increases in Contracted Fuel provision are adding significant cost pressures. The coming financial year (2009-10) is additionally affected by the current economic climate with dramatic reductions in investment income (£2 million) and a fall in revenues from Car Parking and Planning-related services.
Where the money comes from:
- The majority of the budget comes from government grants. Specific grants of £419.5 million are received for particular purposes and central grants of £120.1 million are received for general use. Wiltshire received the lowest increase in general grant for any unitary authority of just 1.68% in 2009-10.
- The next largest income source is Council Tax, which this year makes up £212.1 million – an average increase to each household across Wiltshire of 3.5%
- Fees and charges for services and other income add £81.0 million
- The planned use of in-year reserves adds a further £4.1 million
Where it goes: Priority Spending areas in 2009-10
The Council must prioritise certain service areas to meet the community’s needs. All services were asked to make efficiency savings to maintain spending in 2009-10 at 2008-09 levels and therefore any increased income was applied to key services, the most significant of which are detailed below:
- Children and Education: £364.4 million – up 2.4%
- Older People and those with
Physical Impairment: £56.3 million – up 3.8%
- Learning Disabilities: £44.2 million – up 4.4%
- Mental Health: £24.5 million – up 5.5%
- Waste Disposal: £22.1 million – up 9.6%
- Buses and car parks: £35.6 million – up 3.3%
- Highway Maintenance: £16.3 million – up 4.1%
Capital spending
In addition to the spending on service above, further resources of £303 million will be spent on capital expenditure (buying and maintaining council assets) over the next three years. This includes £79 million on the maintenance and construction of roads, £163 million on education spending including schools, £8 million on housing projects and £35 million maintaining properties. This is funded by government grants, borrowing, the sale of assets and other contributions.
Becoming More Efficient
In 2008-09, the five councils of Wiltshire have continued working to deliver several important efficiency projects, which have enabled significant improvements in service delivery. With the change to a single unitary council the scope for further efficiency savings in 2009-10 is greater than ever.
Savings forecast to be achieved in 2009-10 include £6.5 million on staffing efficiencies, £1.1 million on reducing overheads, £1.4 million on consolidating the authorities and service savings and £2.9 million on commissioning and procurement savings. £8.8 million of these savings are attributable to the move to a single council.
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14th May 2009
 
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