Walsall Council boss says tax rise represents 'more than good value for money'

Walsall Council’s cabinet endorsed its budget plan for the next three years at a meeting on Wednesday which includes a tax increase by 2.99 per cent – include one per cent ring fenced for adult social care in 2022/23.

Authority leader Mike Bird said the raise represented a 15p a day increase on most households in the borough and said it represented great value for the services provided.

The council has also had to make £18.9 million ‘savings’ which Councillor Bird said had been achieved through efficiencies brought about through changes in the way they work.

In addition to a council tax rise, there will also be an increase in fees and charges such as a two per cent hike in bereavement services.

But despite this, Councillor Bird said they will be investing £34.7 million revenue spend in front-line services along with capital investment of £186 million during the coming year.

This includes £233 million in education and training, £5 million in supporting housing needs, £21 million on people’s health and more than £60 million supporting children.

Councillor Bird said: “No doubt the people out there will say, ‘oh the council tax is going up again’. Yes, it’s an annual event.

“We are promoting a council tax increase of two per cent and one per cent for adult social care.

“That equates to 15p a day increase on properties on Bands A-B. I think that’s more than good value for money. There will be those who disagree I’m sure.

“What people have to understand is that council tax does not provide all of the money for the services we have to do. Some of those are statutory requirements.

“Only approximately 20 per cent comes from council tax we raise which funds services.

“The budget supports delivery of the council’s priorities and objectives.

“Our budget is balanced for 2022/23, investing significantly in our front-line services caring for our young elderly and vulnerable residents with total revenue investment of £34.7 million.

“To ensure we continue to invest in priority services we have identified £18.9m in efficiency savings and proposed a council tax increase of 2.99 per cent.

“We’re investing in our capital infrastructure with an additional £187 million in 2022/23 such as fixing and improving our roads, investing in council’s waste management and recycling initiatives and investing in Walsall and Bloxwich town centre and levering in external funds to support our towns and district centres.

“We are investing heavily which will see some great changes. Yes, some of the that will come with pain because when you see improvements in roads, people complain about traffic jams.

“The council must by law set a balanced budget and our core Government grant does not provide us with sufficient funding to cover all of our cost pressures.

“Therefore we have to identify savings or increase our income. There are only two ways to balance the books, more money, less overheads.

“We’ve identified a package of £18.9 million in savings to be delivered through our Proud programme.

“This is an organisational change aimed at improving our customer and staff experiences by implementing new, more efficient, and customer focused ways of working. This will drive our efficiencies and savings.”