Help shape the future of council services by having a say on the council’s budget savings proposals for 2020/21.
Residents from across Caerphilly county borough are encouraged to give their views on a package of savings proposals totalling £8.485 million for the next financial year.
While the council is currently anticipating a similar financial settlement from Welsh Government for the year ahead, there are millions of pounds of inescapable pressures that the council must fund – such as school cost pressures, social care pressures, the living wage and more.
Caerphilly County Borough Council therefore needs to find savings of almost £8.5 million in order to deliver a balanced budget for 2020/21.
In November, the council’s Cabinet Members reluctantly agreed to consult on a list of savings proposals for 2020/21, which includes a proposed council tax increase of 6.95% (which would equate to a £1.51 weekly increase for a Band D property). While council tax is a very important element of the councils funding, it makes up just 20% of the council’s total budget for delivering the wealth of services that Caerphilly county borough residents receive every day of the year. Even with a 6.95% increase in council tax, Caerphilly county borough residents would still pay among the lowest council tax in Wales.
A period of public consultation is currently underway – where we’re asking residents for their views on the proposals.
A full list of the draft savings proposals for 2020/21 can be found here: https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/CaerphillyDocs/Consultations/Caerphilly-Conversation/Budget-Proposals-2020-2021-Summary.aspx
Having read the draft proposals, please take the time to have a say by completing the online survey, which can be found here: https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=157372455364
You will see that the proposed savings focus on the following key areas, and are aligned to the council’s ambitious transformation agenda for the future, through:
- Being more efficient
- Doing things differently
- Services reductions/cuts
- Increases in fees and charges
- Embracing the new authority-wide operating model called ‘Team Caerphilly – Better Together’ which focuses on delivering efficiencies through process reviews, embracing automation and other technologies and a review of the council’s investment strategy.
The closing date to have a say is Monday 13th January 2020.
Equality Impact Assessments and public impact statements for the draft proposals can also be found online at www.caerphilly.gov.uk/caerphillyconversation
Many thanks for taking the time to join the Caerphilly Conversation and for sharing your views.
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