Stevenage’s borough council has decided to increase its share of council tax by the maximum allowed without a referendum – 2.99 per cent.
The average-value band D household is set to contribute £232.31 to the council’s coffers in 2023/24, up from £225.57 this year.
The move to increase council tax will help Stevenage Borough Council balance its 2023/24 budget, which is a legal requirement.
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The scheme includes a hike to some parking charges, a trial to extend the on-street paid parking period from 6pm to 8pm, a reduction in the amount which the council pays for advertisements, and a five per cent rise to the amount which Indoor Market traders pay for their stalls.
The council’s free Play Service in Pin Green, St Nicholas and Bandley Hill – which would have cost £601,000 to run in 2023/24 – will also shut down to balance the books.
Council leader Richard Henry said some of the decisions have been made “with great regret”.
“This is the toughest budget this council has faced in years", he said.
“The cost of living crisis has also affected us as a council with rising inflationary costs including fuel and energy, through to increased material and other expenditure, all this of course, on the back of the cost of COVID and significant reductions in government funding since 2010/11.
“Local government has stepped up magnificently when faced with these current challenges.
“Despite huge cuts and increasing inflationary pressures on our finances we continue to deliver vital front-line services, supporting our most vulnerable residents, housing the homeless, delivering help and emergency funding to businesses and keeping our public spaces safe.
“I would like to express a huge thank you to all council staff who carried out this fantastic work.”
On the Play Service, Cllr Henry said: “The service has not been as well used since the pandemic and it is one of our biggest areas of discretionary spend.”
A council report sets out the Play Service is due to close down in the summer.
The council has agreed £1.62million in cuts to its existing service budget overall.
This falls against a backdrop of “losses” at Stevenage Borough Council car parks, which are expected to reach £600,000 in 2023/24.
The price of parking is set to rise as part of the new budget.
The cost of Monday to Saturday parking for one or two hours in Westgate, The Forum and St Georges is frozen, but the price of parking for three hours or more will rise by 50p – £6 for more than five hours in St Georges and £9 at the Forum and Westgate.
Long-stay parking on weekdays and Saturdays is also set to rise by 50p at Swingate, Daneshill and Southgate.
On-street parking charges are also set to rise.
An asbestos issue at some council-owned garages could set the council back £200,000 in lost revenue, while inflation pressures are estimated to be in the region of £1.65million – based on rising utility bills and a three per cent pay award for staff.
Stevenage Borough Council explored ending the town fireworks show – saving £18,000 – but this does not feature in the council’s next budget and “a review of all the events in the town to include fireworks will be undertaken during 2023/24 to inform the 2024/25 budget setting process”.
The council uses a separate set of funds for longer term projects such as the Stevenage regeneration.
Councillor Phil Bibby, leader of the Stevenage Conservative Group, said: “On the one hand, it is welcome that the Labour Administration has, at last, come up with some meaningful efficiencies to balance the book.
“On the other hand, it is a travesty that the much-loved Play Service will be a casualty of their cuts, due to their intransigence over significant savings suggestions we Conservatives have been making for a few years now.
“Everyone I speak to who is concerned about our children’s wellbeing is heartbroken at the loss of the Play Service, and so it was a disappointment to us that our budget amendment motion to provide a lifeline was voted down by Labour.”
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The Conservative Group argued the council should make alternative savings which could allow support groups to bid for cash to run activities.
“Most, if not all local authorities are having to make difficult budgetary decisions to maintain services in the present economic climate,” Cllr Bibby added.
“Stevenage Borough Council could still be committed to all services if the Labour politicians agreed to look at all savings options available to them.”
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