A COUNCIL Tax rise of 2.99 per cent has been approved by Worcester City Council chiefs with £225,000 being invested in a new bridge linking Gheluvelt Park and Kepax Park.
The Guildhall budget was broadly backed by all of the parties on the city council during a meeting last night (Tuesday) and Green councillors welcomed the cross-party agreement which was passed unanimously.
Council Tax will increase by around 1p a day, as permitted by the Government, giving an annual rise of £5.40 for a band D property.
Among the highlights in the budget was £398,000 to improve the city council’s CCTV network, £400,000 supporting a revamp of The Shambles shopping area, £236,000 on new temporary accommodation for people at risk of homelessness and £145,000 for solar-powered litter bins and more recycling points, enhancing cleanliness and tidiness in the city centre.
A total of £100,000 to be invested in the creation of The Kiln, a new city centre co-working space for freelancers and creatives while £200,000 will be set aside for improvements to the City Council’s 14 car parks.
Car parking charges will be frozen for the fifth successive year and introducing the debate, Green Party leader Coun Louis Stephen welcomed the investment to create a new Environment and Sustainability Officer for the city council in a bid to ensure the authority is carbon neutral by 2030.
“I believe the committee system has enabled us to produce a long term financial plan for this city, free from the pre election political point scoring,” he said.
City council leader Coun Marc Bayliss welcomed a balanced budget for the next five years and echoed the view of the Greens view the plan was made possible because of the authority’s committee system of governance.
“We are increasing Council Tax but we are doing it to deliver more for the people of Worcester. I for one hope we don’t need to repeat this in the future,” he said.
The Conservative leader also raised the prospect of cutting council tax in years ahead and when asked by the Observer after the meeting confirmed he hoped the authority would in a position to reduced council tax bills in future.
Labour leader Coun Adrian Gregson agreed with the overall tenor of the budget but called for the council to continue to live in the real world and ensure policies implemented in recent years were allowed to come to fruition.
“This budget is an important step in delivering the ambitions of our City Plan and the vision set out in the draft City Centre Masterplan. I welcome the provision in this year’s budget to provide additional support for people at risk of homelessness or facing financial hardship,” he said.
“I think it’s also important to note the funding settlement from Government is the last one. From next year we don’t know the system of local government funding.”
