A draft business plan and budget, focussed on delivering £1.2 billion of essential services, including an extra £45.5 million next year for adult social care in Cornwall, will be considered when the cabinet meets next week at County Hall.
The plans also include £1.3 billion of capital investment, including support for economic growth projects that create homes and jobs for local people and reflect the priorities of residents.
Plans include:
- Investing for the future of children and young people in Cornwall with £93 million to provide 550 new school places and repair school buildings
- £45.5 million extra investment in adult social care services
- Investing for the future of communities with just over £1.1 billion to support economic growth projects that create homes and jobs for local people, allowing the Council to lever in additional funding from external investors and also roll out a new waste service
- Investing for the future with £54 million for projects to put the Council at the forefront of modern, flexible, low carbon ways of working, maintaining and transforming our office estate.
The majority of savings will come from reducing the amount the Council spends on contracts and through proposed workforce reductions.
The proposals would see Cornwall Council’s share of Council Tax charge rise by 1.99%, plus an additional 1% for the Government’s adult social care precept. This total 2.99% rise is the equivalent of a 96p per week increase for an average band D property.
The budget deficit means the plans also propose significant changes to the way the Council works, including how services are delivered and where they are delivered from. It means a greater proportion of the Council’s £1.2 billion annual expenditure is being directed towards those essential frontline services. The plans also include a pledge to ensure the Council improves the way it interacts with and works with everyone, whether they are a resident, a business or a contractor.
Cllr David Harris, deputy leader of Cornwall Council and portfolio holder for resources, said: “Like every household across Cornwall, we have been hit by a combination of the effects of the pandemic and the fact rising demand and costs outstrip any increase in our finances.
“We have had to make some difficult decisions, but we have listened to what we were told on the doorstep during the election and have made sure all we do reflects our clear priorities, and we are razor-focussed on ensuring we deliver against them.”
You can find the Council’s draft budget and business plan and areas highlighted for reduced spending, including staffing and property costs within the council itself on the Council’s website here.
