AN ‘unavoidable but necessary’ decision to raise council tax by 4.49 per cent was formally agreed by Barnsley Council yesterday - but councillors warned future funding could be impacted further amid considerable financial uncertainty.
The budget for 2019/20 was approved at the full council meeting at the town hall which saw just one person - Liberal Democrat Coun Hannah Kitching who represents the Penistone West ward - vote against the proposals.
The 4.49 per cent, when broken down, includes 2.99 per cent to help fund general services such as bin collections, roads and area councils and 1.5 per cent which will be ring-fenced for adult social care.
Coun Alan Gardiner, cabinet spokesperson for core services, said: “The 2.99 per cent rise will protect vital frontline services which we wouldn’t have been able to provide without council tax going up it’s unavoidable and equates to 82p per week.
“To be frank, it’s one of the hardest decisions we have had to make as it puts a financial burden on our residents’ shoulders.
“The increase has been kept to an absolute minimum and it has not been taken lightly, but a tipping point has been reached.
“In Barnsley, 19 per cent of the population is over 65 which is higher than the local, regional and national average and that 1.5 per cent rise will generate £1.4m for social care.
“Lots of positive work is being done and 2019/20 will see the Principal Towns programme continuing, which is boosting local centres, while the town centre’s redevelopment continues at pace.
“We’re entering phase two of the build and this summer will see the library’s opening and the construction of the Market Gate bridge.
“The coming years will be challenging but I am confident our key priorities will continue to be delivered in order to create a brighter and better future for Barnsley.”
Since 2010, the council has made savings of an estimated £107m, including £5.8m which will be made in the next financial year.
Jobs across the council have also been cut by nearly 40 per cent as a knock-on effect, with 36 more potential job losses expected in 2019-20.
The council says it has a stable financial plan in place despite Barnsley being one of the worst-hit places in the country for austerity cuts, although uncertainty about Brexit could continue to impact future government funding for local authorities.
Council leader Sir Steve Houghton added: “This has not been an easy decision but it’s one that’s been done in a very difficult climate. Given what Barnsley’s had to endure, it’s a remarkable achievement.
“We didn’t want to stick the council tax up but we’re still making our communities better and we’ll keep on doing that to the best of our ability.”
