Council proposes £4 million to fix potholes and further support vulnerable children and homelessness services.
They might give £5 million to help vulnerable kids. More funds could combat homelessness, too. Next week, the full council will finalize the budget. Councillors set budget goals in January. New council tax income changed things, and second home taxes gave them spending flexibility.
Phil Twiss spoke about resident complaints. People often report potholes on Devon roads, and he wants extra money to fix that problem. The budget now includes £4 million for roads.
Twiss talked about meetings with leaders. Business leaders, unions, and charities gave input. Devon committees and councils shared feedback, too. They helped shape these budget plans. He noted work helping homeless people, and an extra £500,000 goes to homelessness support. The total budget is now £1 million.
Children’s services will get £5 million extra. This will aid vulnerable children in Devon, allowing them to get care closer to their homes. Services will help families and communities stay together. Twiss says the council faces high service demand, with limited funds to aid residents.
He says their council stays strong and sustainable, aiming for better results at a lower cost. They face rising demand for services and prioritize young, old, and vulnerable people. Twiss believes this budget is good for Devon and that it is a realistic plan for the people.
The full council meets February 20 and will finalize the 2025/26 budget. Spending on vulnerable adults rises by 8.2%, and children’s services get a 5.5% budget increase. Other departments will see spending cuts. Increased income helps the overall budget, as it rises 5.9% to over £784.1 million.