Vale of White Horse Budget Approved Supporting Local Services

The district will keep funding vital local help. This plan will work despite economy changes. Councillors voted on February 12 to keep investing. They also want residents to get great value.

The careful plan means good service will stay and you can rely on waste pick-up as usual. They also help housing, homelessness, and fun places. Community help and planning will still be available.

The budget has cash for better leisure spots. Wantage Leisure Centre will get a teaching pool. Faringdon will get a special new sports pitch. Developers give money for these projects through Section 106 and levies.

Money also goes to planting trees and backs nature projects for three years. The council’s Community Hub is secure until 2027. The Hub gives advice and real support. People get help with bills and food costs.

The council gets only 7% of your council tax with most going to the county council, at 78%. The police get 11%, and local towns get the last 4%.

Vale council tax will be £161.69 per year. This applies to a Band D property and is only about £3.11 each week. The government also gives Vale £8.8 million and new homes give almost £1.6 million. Packaging fees offer £1.2 million and companies pay these packaging fees, under a brand new national rule.

Andy Crawford spoke about the budget issues and said services stay safe despite problems. Council tax is low for a county area, due to careful money planning.

However, they must pay higher national insurance costs, exceeding £100,000 extra this year. Packaging fees help, but only for one year. The future of local government is uncertain, so they must protect public services.