Council tax 'base freeze' in proposed BCP Council budget

While the base council tax threshold would remain unchanged, the plans for the 2022/23 financial year would see the local authority collect an additional four per cent adult social care precept.

This element of residents' tax bills, which is ringfenced for adult social services, did not increase this year.

The four per cent precept would equate to an increase of 17p a day – an additional £62 for the year – for those living in a Band D property.

BCP Council leaders say the proposed approach would be one of the lowest council tax increases in the country.

However, the budget plan being taken to fund the overall investment proposal for the local authority is not without risk, a cabinet report says.

Councillor Drew Mellor, leader of BCP Council, said: "I am delighted to bring forward our proposals which will see a zero increase in the base council tax threshold. We believe this would represent one of the lowest council tax increases anywhere in the country over the last two years.

Cllr Drew Mellor

“Our budget proposals bring forward financially credible solutions to ensure we are financially resilient and sustainable into the future, as we continue to deliver on our Big Plan commitment to invest in our iconic place, build new homes, create jobs for local people, and create wealth for our businesses and families.”

If approved, the Conservative administration's budget would invest an additional £12.1million in adult social care and £12.3million in children's service.

“We want to improve the life chances and outcomes of the most vulnerable people and we know the precept will only make a small contribution to those critical services therefore we plan to make an unprecedented investment towards protecting and supporting our most vulnerable children and adults," said Cllr Mellor.

A £20million Green Futures Fund is planned to tackle the climate agenda, with the council maintaining its target of being carbon neutral by 2030.

More than £5million is proposed to continue with unlocking regeneration opportunities, street cleansing, supporting the arts and culture, and rolling out further community safety initiatives.

An extra £8.2million is proposed to support the council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme, the summer readiness seasonal response initiative, road maintenance and pothole repairs.

An additional £1.5million is also planned to improve the council’s customer services functions.

In bringing forward the investment proposals the council plans to use new "financial solutions and fully utilise its existing assets".

This includes setting up a separate company, with the council as the main shareholder, to "release the long-term value" of its beach huts.

The move, which would be subject to member approval, is required if the budget is going to deliver the minimum of £43million in capital receipts required.

“We are committed to retaining and utilising our assets and the proposed income the council will receive through, for example, releasing the value of beach huts is evidence of how we can use our unique position - being one of Europe’s best coastlines – to refinance and release funding to invest in our transformation programme which will ultimately deliver significant savings for the council whilst saving money for council taxpayers in the future," said Cllr Mellor.

“Through these proposals we will see less reliance on conventional income streams such as council tax, grants and business rates, and instead use the creative autonomy over our assets so that we can invest in the future, continue to enhance those key council services which matter the most to our residents, and reduce the need to increase council tax where possible.”

The budget proposals will be considered by the overview and scrutiny board on January 31, before going to cabinet on February 9 and full council on February 22.

As reported, Dorset police and crime commissoner David Sidwick is consulting on a proposed increase to the policing precept element of council tax, which makes up part of residents' bill but is determined separately from the council's budget process.