More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Kent County Council’s 81 members will decide whether to vote through next financial year’s budget this week - including a council tax rise.
More than £1.5bn will be invested towards a range of key services, including adult social care, schools and highways improvements, if approved.
Kent County Council leader Roger Gough on council tax bill increase
However, concerns continue to be raised about KCC’s growing ‘debt mountain’ of £1bn, which has been accumulated through over-reliance on borrowing.
Cllr Peter Oakford (Con), the county council’s deputy leader and finance cabinet member, has described the budget as a ‘difficult one’.
He emphasised the need for a new funding model, with the council dipping more into its reserves to help pay for the running of services and interest rates.
KCC will face additional spending pressures of £107m from April 2020 to March 2021.
Around £37.4m will be met through Government grants , but £29.7m of savings will have to be made.
The remaining £39.9m will be covered through ‘regrettable’ increases to council tax and business rates.
KCC’s leader Roger Gough (Con), who will be chairing his first annual budget meeting this week, said: “Government has given us a better settlement than previous years...but only to a degree that matches to part of those additional pressures.
“To meet those pressures, we are roughly splitting it into three thirds.”
The draft budget also includes planned council tax rises of 1.995% and a further 1.995% towards the social care levy.
A final decision on these proposed increases will be made at the full council meeting on Thursday.
Cllr Gough said: “Whilst there are still pressures, the position is somewhat better than previous years....so we are able to focus on the areas that have been a major source of concern for our residents.”
These areas of concern include a growing financial deficit over education provision for students with special educational needs and the rising numbers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children coming into Kent.
But, Liberal Democrat and Labour opponents have also questioned whether enough money is being invested into tackling environmental issues amid the climate change emergency.
Cllr Trudy Dean (Lib Dem) is also expected to propose an addition of £250,000 to KCC’s budget to train teachers to spot young carers, and provide the children with the necessary support and advice they need to help them with this huge task.
She said: “These children deserve every support we can give them so they can enjoy school and time with their own friends too.”
Councillors will decide whether to approve the budget at a KCC meeting tomorrow at Maidstone County Hall’s main council chamber from 10am.
