Derbyshire Dales listens to local people on budget proposal

1 March 2010

About a third of the money for Derbyshire Dales District Council’s services comes from a Government grant – and the 0.5% rise in this grant for 2010/11 is significantly under inflation, which stood at 3.5% in January.
In real terms the new grant of £4,823,000 means a reduction in cash for a council praised by the Audit Commission for the value for money it delivers. 

The District Council’s Citizens’ Panel – 1,000 local people consulted on a regular basis – has recommended the shortfall be bridged by a combination of an increase in Council Tax and fees and a reduction in services. However, no reduction in services is planned in 2010/11.

Councillors will consider a below-inflation 2.9% rise in the District’s Council Tax at a meeting on Thursday (4 March), the lowest increase for 15 years. If the proposal is approved, Derbyshire Dales households will pay on average 24p more a week for District Council services in the coming year as the Derbyshire Dales authority again rides the impact of receiving the worst central government grant of any of the county’s eight districts.

The proposed increase means the average bill will be £189.66 per year. This is equivalent to a weekly bill of £3.65, just over 50p per household per day.

The new budget will help the District Council to maintain revenue spending of around £10.4 million in the coming year, focusing on priorities identified by local people – particularly affordable homes, maintaining the Derbyshire Dales’ status as one of the safest and cleanest places to live in the UK and promoting active, healthy communities.

Derbyshire Dales District Council collects Council Tax not only to help to pay for its own services, but also on behalf of other public bodies.  The majority - around 70% - goes direct to Derbyshire County Council. Only about 12% contributes to the    services provided by Derbyshire Dales District Council. The County Council is charging an average of £1,077 on every household in 2010/12.  The overall Council Tax, including the District, County, Police, and Fire & Rescue, goes up by 1.8%, the lowest increase since Council Tax was introduced in 1993.

Councillor Lewis Rose OBE, leader of Derbyshire Dales District Council, said: “We have known the low rise in central grant was coming as it was decided two years ago, but the authority had reckoned without a £180,000 additional cut in its funding for free bus passes for the elderly – a service it is legally obliged to provide.

"A Council Tax increase is therefore necessary, together with increased fees and charges and cuts in services as we continue to target priorities identified by local people and to help residents through the economic downturn.  For example the District Council has reluctantly agreed to increase car parking charges for the first time in four years from 1 April, although residents’ parking concessions will continue to allow local people to park free every day of the year up to 11am and after 4pm.

“The fact that the average householder in the Dales still pays only £3.65 a week for our services demonstrate how we continue to do more with less by making best value for your money a top priority.  I believe this is why the Audit Commission recently rated us the top performing council in Derbyshire.”
Councillor Rose said public finances in future years would get even more challenging, with cuts in Government grants expected. "2011/12 is going to be the real crunch year for local government when some very difficult decisions will have to be made,” he said.”

Revenue spending will be focused on four priority areas following public consultation:
• Affordable, decent housing
• Safe communities
• Street scene
• Active healthy communities

Capital investment in the coming year will amount to £12.3 million, much of which will benefit the local economy.  The major items are:
• £7.3 million for the new Central Area Leisure Centre
• £1.3 million for the District Council’s affordable housing initiatives
• £827,000 for the IMPRESS project in Matlock town centre
• £590,000 for improvements to public conveniences and other assets

By continuing to generate efficiencies and savings, the District Council has been able to limit its increase in net expenditure to just 1%, while at the same time offsetting its falling government grant.  Since 2004, Derbyshire Dales District Council has achieved more than £2 million in efficiency savings.

Councillor Rose added: “It would have been possible for us to ask our residents to pick up all of the central government grant shortfall, but in these tough economic times we have opted to work harder than ever to ensure people who live in the Derbyshire Dales do not feel the full impact of the burden.

“It will be a challenge to do more than maintain the excellent current level of services, but we promise to continue to consult vigorously with local people and listen to what they are saying.”

Derbyshire Dales District Council’s achievements in 2009/10 include:

• 47 new affordable homes enabled with more scheduled before the end of the year

• Parish housing needs surveys carried out in Litton, Great Longstone, Calver, Matlock Bath, Cromford and Kniveton

• Insulated the lofts of 74 homes experiencing fuel poverty through the Rural Warm Zone project resulting in annual savings of over £18,000 and an annual CO2 reduction of over 89 tonnes 

• CCTV system in Bakewell upgraded to a digital system, completing roll-out of upgraded CCTV in all Dales towns 

• One further District Council car park approved for Park Mark accreditation, taking the total to 18 

• Assaults with injury have continued to reduce 

• Site remediation works underway on the new Central Area Leisure Centre 

• Attendances on Walking for Health walks have increased by 3.4% 

• 42% increase in the number of adults referred by general practice for exercise