Full Council will meet in Truro next week for the final setting of the authority’s budget for 2023/24.
The Cabinet met last week and agreed the draft budget, which will be put before the full council for final approval.
That budget would see Cornwall Council’s part of the Council Tax bill increase by 2.99%, with an additional 2% levy which will be ring-fenced for Adult Social Care services.
The budget has protected the support available for those struggling to pay, and remains one of the lowest Council Tax bills across the South-West region, with an average Band D property’s rate increasing by £1.65 per week, lower than the national average increase.
Among the key points of the proposals are:
- A net increase of around £26 million on Adult and Children care services
- Sufficient funding to continue to invest in new technology to improve customer services
- £98 million investment in new school places and past due school repairs
Cllr David Harris, deputy leader of Cornwall Council and portfolio holder for resources, said: “I am delighted to be putting a balanced budget before the council, especially considering how challenging the process of getting to this point has been.
“As an authority we are in a much healthier place than many of our counterparts and have not been forced to dip into our reserves to reach this point, which is thanks to the hard work of everyone involved in this process.
“We are protecting services while keeping our Council Tax rates below average for the South West, which is an achievement we can be proud of, especially in the current economic climate.”
Also on the agenda at the meeting will be the adoption of the Climate Change Emergency Development Plan, and the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry revenue estimates for 2023/24.
The meeting will take place at County Hall in Truro on Tuesday, February 21, starting at 10am, and is open to the public. You can also watch via the council's webcast service.
Posted 15 February, 2023
