 Council Tax payments for an average household
We’ve set our annual budget for the year ahead and we’ve had to make tough decisions to ensure we remain financially sound to protect our vital services.
You will see an increase in your Council Tax of 4.99 per cent. This means the average household will pay £1,751.84. It also includes the amounts for police, fire service and a typical parish council in the borough.
Two per cent of the rise is only allowed to be used on adult social care, called the adult social precept.
This money is to meet the cost of helping people stay independent, safe and well so they can live the lives they want to.
This includes people who are frail, or have disabilities, neurodiversity or mental health issues, as well as the people who care for them.
One per cent of the increase will be used to reduce previous and expected overspends on Special Educational Needs.
See a breakdown of how Council Tax is spent.
Earmarking support for those most in need
We simply do not get enough money from the Government, which is why we unfortunately must rely so heavily on Council Taxpayers to fund vital services.
This comes at a time where everything costs more money and the demand for our practical and financial support for residents continues to rise.
We completely understand that Council Tax increases are going to hit people hard and that is why we have found an extra £100,000 to reduce the impact. We have also set aside £250,000 to support those most in need.
 Protecting vital services
Financial pressures, high costs and inadequate Government funding have meant we needed to make significant savings which has made setting this budget very challenging.
We are confident this budget will ensure financial security for the borough and allow us to continue to spend money where it is most needed. About 60 per cent of the budget is allocated to adult and children’s services.
If you have a disability or health condition, which could affect you at any time, you might need help to continue living in our community, surrounded by loved ones and enjoying as many of the things you value as possible.
When organised well, social care helps us stay connected to others and allows us to live the way we want, with purpose, connection and dignity, at all stages.
Supporting every member of the community where we can
Our costs are rising significantly and our budget needs to ensure essential services continue to run and that we can support every member of our community.
The cost of living crisis, along with the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic, has put unprecedented pressure on us. We’re also seeing increased demand for statutory services, including for those with special educational needs and disabilities, and this is an added challenge.
Despite all of this, we’re committed to protecting our social care to ensure that everyone remains safe and knows they are a valued member of the Wokingham Borough community.
 Government chooses to give borough £30million less
With high inflation pushing up all our costs and the needs of residents increasing, we needed an extra £26million this year to plug the funding gap.
However, we received only a £1.8million increase in our funding grant from the Government.
We continue to receive the least funding from central government per resident of any unitary authority in the country.
This is £30million per year less than if we were funded in the same way as the average unitary authority – at a time when our residents need support the most.
 Inflation is impacting our services
The increase in inflation rates, which currently stands at over 10 per cent, has meant the cost of everything has continued to rise - not only for residents and local businesses, but also for us and the services we provide.
The budget shows how we have saved almost £12million in service efficiencies, of which more than £10million comes from cost reductions.
This has helped to limit the impact on Council Tax payers, but the increase in costs and needs, combined with low government funding, has made increasing Council Tax inevitable.
 Cost of living support options
Our cost of living help hub outlines the support and help that's available across the area if you're struggling. This includes:
Or if you'd prefer to speak to someone, contact the Citizens Advice Wokingham One Front Door or call them on 0808 278 7958, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
We'll be back with our normal mix of news and updates on Friday morning.
We want to know if this update made you feel you better understand why we have had to increase Council Tax. Just click yes or no below and it will register your vote:
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