St Albans City & District Council (SADC) agreed a budget for the next financial year on Wednesday, February 26, along with a long-term plan setting out their priorities.
SADC is required to produce a balanced budget every year, ensuring spending is matched by income, grant funding and, if appropriate, the use of reserves.
Net savings of £325,000 were budgeted to account for rising costs such as an increase in employer’s national insurance contributions, and higher demand for some services, including homelessness.
Councillor Giles Fry, lead for resources, said after the meeting: “I am pleased that we have agreed to a balanced budget despite the severe financial challenges that we are faced with.
“We have managed once again to protect our key services such as our leisure, community and cultural facilities and we also plan to bolster our reserves in case of unforeseen shocks.”
An increase in SADC’s share of Council Tax bills of 2.99 per cent was agreed, which means a resident in a Band D property will pay an average of £208 to SADC for its services in the coming year – an increase of 12p a week.
SADC also approved a plan for the next five years which focuses on four priorities. These include supporting great communities, providing more social housing, making the environment a priority in all council decisions, and treating everyone with fairness.
Councillor Paul de Kort, Leader of SADC, said: “It is important that in the battle to keep our finances stable, we do not lose sight of our long-term objectives such as providing more social housing and tackling the climate emergency.
“Our Council Plan lays out these and other key priorities as well as the actions we will take to make our district an even more vibrant place to live and work.”
Photo Credit: St Albans City and District Council Facebook
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