Dudley Council to directly fund PCSOs under £7.5m government grant
Dudley looks set to receive more government funding than it has for a decade - although it is still 20 per cent less than the money invested in 2010.
Under the proposals the council will receive £7.5 million with which it is hoping to fund five new PCSOs, upgrade sports facilities and buy an additional bin lorry.
Directly funding police on the streets is a first for the borough and the council is planning to spend £750,000 over three years on five new PCSOs.
It is also hoping West Midlands Police will match the funding and bring the total to 10 new PCSOs.
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Sports pitches and changing rooms will also be revamped, new road signs will be be installed and more trees will be planted in the borough.
The council is also planning to increase council tax by 3.99 per cent to fund other council services. This includes spending £6.6m over three years to improve local health care.
The budget proposals will be discussed at cabinet on October 31. This will be followed by a 12-week public consultation, with a final decision on the plans set for February.
Council leader Patrick Harley said: "We're delighted to announce the biggest investment in services for borough residents in 10 years.
"With the Government consulting on a settlement which looks favourable and a planned increase in council tax, the people of Dudley could see a wave of investments if all of this is approved.
"People have waited long enough for news like this, but it shows that we do listen to what local people want and act on that."
Council bosses hope the final figure will be signed off by December.
The Government is currently consulting on the annual settlement but early indications suggest the investment will be £7.5m.
This represents a four per cent increase on 2018/19 central government funding for Dudley but is still down 20 per cent from the funding which Dudley received in 2010.
Funding boosts are set to be delivered to councils across the country.
Other plans for investment will see £120,000 spent on upgrading sports pitches and changing rooms over a three-year period. Some changing room facilities in Dudley date back to the 1970s.
Councillor Harley said this represented "a clear investment" in supporting grassroots sports.
There are also plans to make Dudley a greener borough, with £300,000 earmarked for planting new trees and maintaining existing trees over three years.
There are plans to invest £120,000 over three years for new road signs, repainting road markings and cleaning an additional 7,500 alleyways.
