Gloucestershire budget to invest in children’s services

Gloucestershire County Council’s budget for 2019/20 will see almost £11 million extra invested into children’s services as part of an overall increase of £15 million.

The council’s cabinet has endorsed the budget proposals, which sets aside £179 million of new capital investment for schools, community facilities and highways, including funding for the council’s £150 million road improvements programme.

Taking efficiencies into account, the endorsed budget for 2019/20 would be £428 million and is based upon a 2.99 per cent increase in council tax (£8.4 million), to be invested in children’s services, making sure improvements go from strength to strength. Gloucestershire County Council claims to sit in the bottom 25 per cent when it comes to council tax levels.

The council is also proposing to apply the national social care precept at two per cent, which will raise an additional £5.6 million to help manage the increase demand for adult care services. This would see a £5.13 per month increase for the average Band D taxpayer.

Mark Hawthorne, leader of the county council, commented: "This budget invests in the priorities of Gloucestershire people with more support for the most vulnerable people in our county, more investment in schools, and more resurfacing of our roads.

“Our new strategy, Looking to the Future sets out our ambitious plans for the future of this great county and the budget we have endorsed today shows that we can deliver - investing in quality services now and in a successful tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who took the time to give their views on the budget and the new council strategy – your time and views are greatly valued.”