Scarborough borough residents have less than a week to have say on council budget

The authority is planning to not raise its share of the precept for 2021/22, which makes up approximately 13% of a rate payers bill, due to the impact of the last year on people in the borough.

It means a resident in a Band D property in the borough would once again pay £239.75 for the year.

North Yorkshire County Council, which makes up around 63% of the total council tax bill for residents, is proposing to increase its share of the precept by 1.99%, equivalent to an extra £27 a year for an average household, to fund pandemic support and recovery and other priority areas.

In total, a Band D property in Scarborough paid £1,941.68 in 2020/21.

The borough council’s budget also lays out the financial impact of the pandemic on the authority and the potential ramifications of the Government’s Fair Funding Review which will see the council need to make budget savings of £4.9m by 2024.

The council is proposing to make £335,000 in efficiencies and savings and will draw £500,000 from its reserves to balance the budget.

A £900,000 “Covid contingency” is also built into the budget to deal with the pandemic fallout.

The budget is now out to consultation before being voted on by the full council at the end of this month.

In its consultation document, the authority states: “The council’s policy has always been to be as efficient as possible and protect front line services and since 2010 the council has delivered savings of £21m from its annual revenue budget.

“Over that same period performance in many areas has increased.

The cost of services provided by the council is funded from council tax income, government grants and locally generated fees and charges.

“Each year the council faces movements in core government funding as well as cost pressures. In addition investment in priority areas must be factored into the revenue budget, resulting in annual funding gaps that need to be balanced through the identification of savings.”

The closing date for responses is Monday.

Click here to have your say.