Sandwell Council delivers balanced budget for next financial year

At a meeting last night (Tuesday 20 February) councillors approved £333million of spending on services that serve 344,000 residents, plus £417million of investment on capital projects and a further £223million of investment in the council’s housing stock.

The budget also includes recurring savings of £12million and temporary cost reduction measures of £7million. 

Council Tax will increase by 2.99% plus a 2% increase for Adult Social Care to maintain key services for older, disabled and vulnerable people.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources Councillor Bob Piper told the meeting: “These are very difficult days for local government across the country. As many as 40 councils have issued warnings that they’re struggling to set a balanced budget by this time next year.

“I’m pleased to be able to report that because of sensible and timely decision making, Sandwell are not in the position of those councils having to consider the dreaded Section 114 notice.”

Councillor Piper told members that the vast majority of councils across the country would also increase their Council Tax by a total of 4.99%, explaining how the majority of the council’s budget was spent on caring for and supporting children, young people, disabled people, older people and the vulnerable.

“It’s worth noting that around 60% of our budget is spent on vital services for Adult Social Care and vulnerable children,” he said.

“We’ve had to identify £12million in recurrent savings in this year but it’s a result of the sensible management of our finances and our preparedness to take difficult decisions when necessary that our financial position is much, much better than those authorities up and down the country warning of financial armageddon.

“This is a budget that protects our most vulnerable people,” he said. “It’s a budget that will invest to deliver our ambitions for Sandwell’s future and it’s a budget that will protect our core services,” he added.

A proposal to close the Shopmobility service in West Bromwich during the coming financial year was withdrawn. Funding of the service will continue while users are consulted and options for the future of the service are explored.

Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Kerrie Carmichael said: “As one of the largest councils in the country, we serve more than 340,000 residents. From our work to support vulnerable children and adults to maintaining our highways and parks, we’re always looking to deliver the best possible services for our community.”

“We have much to be proud of, including our outstanding track record in attracting funding into our borough and the incredible Sandwell Aquatics Centre which is the best community leisure facility in the country.

“There are opportunities for us to really build on these foundations. Our sound financial management has been recognised by the Government. This is a budget that will support us to continuing to improve and also support us on our journey to being an outstanding council.”

The council’s budget was produced taking into consideration findings from budget consultations with residents, businesses and voluntary sector organisations.

The majority of properties in Sandwell are in Council Tax Bands A and B, with 43% being in Band A and 33% Band B – putting more than three quarters of Sandwell households in the two lowest bands.

The increase in Council Tax equates to £1.06 per week for a Band A property and £1.23 per week for a Band B property.

One in three Band A properties and one in six Band B properties also receive a Council Tax reduction based on their income, meaning those households will see a lower increase in their bill.

Precepts for the police and fire service will be decided separately and will be shown on Council Tax bills when they are sent to households in March.

Anyone struggling to pay their Council Tax should contact the Council Tax team or the Council’s Welfare Rights team and ask about the Council Tax Support Scheme.

Increase in Council Tax by band

*There are 136,276 dwellings in Sandwell

**There are 64 Band G properties in Sandwell

***There are 39 Band H properties in Sandwell