Share your views on draft council budget

The consultation on the draft RBWM budget has been live since 15 December and will run until Monday 22 January 2024. It has been well circulated through newsletters, social media and in the press. You still have time to have your say!

Take part in the consultation by clicking here

The draft budget was discussed at Cabinet in mid December, and at this stage, the budget proposals provisionally set out a balanced position for 2024/25. The final funding position from government will not be known until later this month, and work will continue ahead of the final budget being presented to Full Council in February.

RBWM have taken swift and decisive action to address the serious financial challenges the council faces, and presenting a balanced budget marks an important step forwards.

The council remains in a weak and serious financial position which will take time to turn around, and achieving financial stability will need to be the overarching priority for the council for some time to come.

To help achieve a balanced budget, the draft budget proposes a 4.99% increase in council tax for 2024/25, which includes an increase of 2% in the adult social care precept. This level of increase is being proposed by most councils, but our low council tax base means that, even at the maximum increase allowed, in pounds and pence this is still a lower increase than in other areas. The alternative would be significant further reductions to those services and would risk the quality of care provided.

Some tough decisions are needed to bring costs down and increase income. However, the draft budget provides for investment and increased spending in a number of priority areas. Please visit our consultation portal above to discover more.

Feedback from the public consultation will help inform discussions when the budget is discussed by Cabinet on 7 February and Full Council on 27 February 2024. Note that proposed changes to parking fees and charges are set out in a separate consultation.