COUNCIL tax in Wiltshire will go up by three per cent this year.

The local authority's budget for the coming year was voted through in Tuesday's full council meeting in Trowbridge.

As well as the council tax increase, the cost of parking in council car parks will also go up, as well as the  removal of grant funding from a range of lunch clubs and friendship clubs across the county.

Wiltshire Council leader Richard Clewer said that it was a "hugely significant budget for Wiltshire" but retiterated "difficult decisions came after "hundreds of hours of mature debate".

A general budget of £417.703m has been approved for 2022/23.

This includes a council tax increase of 2.99 per cent - a 1.99 per cent general increase, and a levy of one per cent to be spent solely on Adult Social Care.

This works out at £311.192m with an average Band D household paying £1,638.16 - an
increase of 91p per week.

Other key points

Other changes in the budget include £25m for a new leisure facility in Trowbridge, £74.627m for three major road improvements in Salisbury, Chippenham and Melksham, and a 4.1 per cent increase in social dwelling rents.

The cabinet said it is a balanced budget that ensures funding for vital services to continue during the ongoing pandemic as well as ensuring the resources are provided to ensure the delivery of the new business plan.

Speaking ahead of the vote on the budget, Coun Clewer said the budget is one the council can be proud of, despite the difficult process.

Coun Clewer added: "Government funding has helped us get through Covid but we haven't been able to make usual savings year on year.

"We have ambitions for a solid financial setting post-Covid, but some difficult 'adult' decisions are still ahead of us.".

He went on to say that "he who wants everything, loses everything", but that his administration will not take that approach.

The Conservative councillor went on to say that the Liberal Democrat amendments to the budget showed how "intellectually bankrupt" the opposition party are.

Lib Dem leader Coun Ian Thorn said that there were "particularly damaging" aspects of the budget which Coun Clewer "belittled" the opposition to, saying: "With this budget, what we’re doing is having a huge impact on some of the most vulnerable and isolated members of our community", and called for it to be rejected.

Labour leader Coun Ricky Rogers thanked Coun Clewer and his cabinet for preparing the budget, said it was a tough time for everyone, and that there is "much to be commended" in the budget, but ultimately voted against it.

To read the budget in full, click here.

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