DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT TO BASSINGBOURN PC MEETING 15th MARCH 2022
- SCDC Budget 2022/2023
Council approved the budget recommendations of Cabinet on 22nd February. This means that the District Council element of the Council tax will be £160.31 or an increase of £5
Per year. There was a proposal that the increase should be frozen but this was defeated as it was felt that the District occupies the lower quartile of council tax amongst District Councils that the increase is fairly modest and that to freeze the tax now would be merely storing up problems for the future and a far bigger increase may be required in years to come if services are to be maintained. The labour group submitted their own budget proposals consisting of feasibility studies to explore green investment initiatives, to examine whether direct care home provision by the local authorities was possible, based on our own sheltered schemes, a cultural strategy and making sure residents were aware of all the concessions and council tax reliefs available. Although this was not approved it did attract support and it was agreed to look at these proposals in the coming year.
The housing revenue budget was also approved for the coming year. This contained an increase in council rents of 4.1% representing an average council rent of £109.24 for existing tenants this is still far below average private sector and housing association rents though it should be pointe out that new tenants may be charged a significantly higher rent in the future, about which there was some concern
- District Council published accounts
There has been a delay in finalising the figures due to Covid which has caused a significant delay in the audit and accounts preparation as working from home which slows procedures considerably and also there have been issues concerning data migration from the old to the new systems especially regarding fixed assets. I understand that these issues have now been resolved and the auditors are happy with the figures and will sign them off very soon.
- Local plan
The results of the consultation have not yet been published and will probably not be done until after the may elections. I understand that some local members and parish councillors have been approached by developers and promotors to seek support for their proposals. This is clearly innapropriate and if any members of the parish council are approached these advances should be referred to the District Council and parish councillors should not enter into any discussions with developers on the local plan.
- Council tax energy rebate scheme
This scheme uses council tax information to assess suitability criteria for individual households for the one off payment of £150 to help with the soaring cost of energy. Although helpful this is nowhere near sufficient to absorb the full amount of the likely increase. I understand that the payments will be made directly to eligible households rather than as a reduction in the Council tax. The District Council has a website which explains the procedures and how to claim. This scheme is being funded by central government and not by the local authorities.
Nigel Cathcart