An extra £45 million support for adult social care services across Cornwall is part of a draft budget set to be considered when cabinet meets next week at County Hall in Truro.
Despite the difficult financial situation facing local authorities across the UK, the draft business plan is set to deliver £1.2 billion worth of essential services across Cornwall.
The proposals would see Cornwall Council’s share of Council Tax charge rise by 1.99%, plus an additional 1% for the Government’s adult social care precept. This total 2.99% rise is the equivalent of a 96p per week increase for an average band D property.
The plans also include £1.4 billion of capital investment, including support for economic growth projects that create homes and jobs for local people and reflect the priorities of residents.
The budget has been designed to meet the council’s priorities as set out by the administration following May’s election:
- For a brilliant place to grow up and be a child - investing for the future of children and young people in Cornwall with £94 million to provide 550 new school places and repair school buildings
- For vibrant safe and supportive communities - significant £45 million extra investment in the day to day running of adult social care services. We will also invest for the future with £38 million for projects including providing our communities with warm, dry and energy efficient homes and investment in our fire and rescue service through a targeted appliance replacement programme.
- For a thriving sustainable Cornwall - investing for the future of communities with just over £1.2 billion to support economic growth projects that create homes and jobs for local people, allowing the Council to lever in additional funding from external investors and also roll out a new waste service; and
- For an empowering and enterprising organisation - investing for the future with £54 million for projects to put the Council at the forefront of modern, flexible, low carbon ways of working, maintaining and transforming our office estate.
The majority of savings will come from reducing the amount the Council spends on contracts and through proposed workforce reductions.
Cllr David Harris, deputy leader of the council and portfolio holder for resources, said: “We have been clear about the scale of the financial difficulties we face as an authority, and it has been no easy task creating a business plan to meet our priorities while addressing the deficit.
“This budget enables us to do that, investing in the services residents have told us matter to them, while creating an authority fit for the future.”
The draft business plan will be on the agenda when the cabinet meets on Wednesday, February 9 at 10am. The meeting will be available to watch live online via the council’s webcast service.