At a Full Council meeting this week (Wed 24 Feb), Cotswold District Councillors approved a net budget for 2020/21 of £12.5 million. The approved budget will allow the Council to invest in the Cotswolds to improve services, protect our environment and help our communities bounce back from Covid-19.
Key elements of the budget include:
- Supporting economic development in the District and preparing business cases for investment through our Recovery Investment Strategy
- Continuing our work on strategic planning to ensure our updated Local Plan is ‘green to the core’ and develop a masterplan for Cirencester, meets our housing needs and acknowledges the challenge of the climate emergency
- A £200,000 investment over two years in a new Civic Pride Programme to tackle environmental crime and improve our public realm
- To plan and develop better, greener transport options in the District
- Ensuring that the most vulnerable people in the District have access to support and accommodation
Cotswold District Council’s budget is funded through your Council Tax, a share of business rates and government grants. Only 7.3% of the Council Tax paid by residents comes to Cotswold District Council. The majority goes to Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Police with local town or parish councils receiving the remainder.
The Council uses its budget to provide a range of services including waste collections, leisure facilities, fly-tipping collection, tourism services and car parks among many others. The Cotswold District Council part of this year’s council tax bill will rise by 10p a week, or £5 a year for the average band D household.
The Budget was approved at Cotswold District Council’s Full Council meeting on Wed 24 February. Councillors voted as follows; 20 for, 14 against, 0 abstentions.