Views wanted on proposed 2023/24 budget for Gloucestershire

The county council has today released details of its ambitious budget for 2023/24. In the current proposals, spending for 2023/24 will reach £560 million, a rise of almost £40 million on 2022/23 levels. There is also £119 million committed to complete exciting infrastructure projects such as the Gloucester South-West Bypass, Arle Court Transport Hub, the flagship 26-mile cycle spine, and flood alleviation schemes like those in Nailsworth, Coleford and Pittville.

The council is proposing committing a further £22 million into protecting the county’s vulnerable children, and a further £21 million into supporting vulnerable adults and those living with a disability. 

By the end of this financial year (2022/23), the council will have invested around £34 million into highways resurfacing schemes, repairing potholes and routine maintenance across the county’s roads.

The council invested £35 million in the brand-new High School Leckhampton, which opened in September and is providing an enriching academic environment for students. A further £44 million is being ear marked in 2023/24 to continue delivering the best possible educational facilities for children and young people in the county.

The budget proposes raising £13.4 million to help fund services through a council tax increase of 2.99%. The proposals would also see £7.3 million raised specifically to support work with the most vulnerable adults in the county through a further 2% increase in the adult social care precept.

Despite this increase the council still expects to have one of the lowest council tax levels of any county council. Based on a band D property, residents would pay an additional £6.04 each month.

The council continues to challenge itself to work more effectively and as a result has identified £33 million in savings and efficiencies for next year.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We are ambitious when it comes to our plans for the county. By 2026 we will have invested more than £1 billion in new and improved school facilities, major highways schemes, improved library facilities and a range of other schemes and projects. We are also investing an additional £41 million towards protecting the most vulnerable children and adults in Gloucestershire.  

“All of this ambition, of course, needs to be funded. We, like households across the county have had to challenge ourselves to be more efficient and have identified £33 million of savings for next year.

“We know proposed Council Tax increase comes at a time where we are all having to make our money go further and is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is a necessary one.

“We want to know what you think about these plans. Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey so that we can listen to your thoughts before finalising the budget.”

For more information on the budget and details on how to have your say, visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/budget2023-24

Public consultation runs from 8 December 2022 until 5pm on 5 January 2023.