Corrected: Borough Council Budget for 2019-2020 Approved

Published on: 1 Feb, 2019
Updated on: 5 Feb, 2019

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Correction: A previous version of this article, published January 24, indicated that the budget proposals had been decided. In fact, the proposals approved by the GBC Executive still have to be agreed by the full council.

Council tax in Guildford is set to rise by 3% this year after the GBC Executive approved the budget for 2019/20.

The Executive approved proposals are expected to be confirmed at a meeting of the full council on February 26.

The anticipated tax hike equates to an extra £5 per year with Band D set at £171.82.

A total of £9,758,577 has been set as the council tax requirement for the borough.

The council will only be able to retain £2.88 million of business rates in 2019/20 out of a total £89.2 million collected. The £2.88 million is an increase of 2.3% from the current financial year.

The Executive also voted at the meeting on Tuesday (January 22) to charge full council tax levy on homes left empty for under five years.

The only discount to be allocated is for empty unfurnished properties for the first seven days.

Rent for garages will be increased by 3.4% as part of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which also includes a 1% rent reduction until March 2020.

General management of the 5,221 units held by the council housing stock costs just under £5 million a year and provides homes to 10% of residents in the borough.

The reduction in rent ranges from between 75p and £2.40 per week for tenants.

Included in the budget is £600,000 to pay for adaptations to properties to allow people to remain in their own homes.

Presenting the HRA, Cllr Philip Brooker, lead member for housing and development management, said a fund of £10million has been set aside to acquire land and property for when “suitable opportunities arise”.

Presenting the budget, Cllr Nigel Manning, lead member for finance and asset management, said there was good news as £674,000 budgeted to pay for a Negative Revenue Support grant was no longer needed.

He said: “While we don’t have much control over empty homes in the borough we are looking to tackle this with a new levy for long-term empty properties and reducing council tax for short-term properties.”

Under the capital investment strategy this year, the council approved flexible use of capital receipts. This is where the council can use capital receipts received in year to pay for transformation projects.

The council has calculated it needs to borrow £339 million for its general fund capital programme.

Cllr Manning said: “I’m pleased to see that despite the ongoing financial pressure we are continuing to invest in our assets. This is essential in enabling us to provide services, protect our heritage and support our local community.”

Funding for design and consultation for Bedford Wharf plaza landscaping scheme was also approved with £650,000 provided.

A landscaping artist is now being commissioned and public consultation will start. Council deputy leader Cllr Matt Furniss said public consultation was “key” to the landscaping development.