Solihull Council has agreed its budget for 2017/18, which includes an increase to council tax.
At the Full Council meeting on 1 March, councillors agreed a budget of £136.462 million. The Band D council tax figure, excluding police, fire and parish precepts, will be £1,269.13. This comprises £1,209.40 for general council tax and £59.73 for adult social care.
In total, council tax will increase by 4.99% which incorporates a 3% increase to fund adult social care.
The Council also approved a Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and efficiency plan up to 2020, which is designed to ensure that Council priorities continue to be met against anticipated continual financial constraints. The strategy outlines the Council’s commitment to ensuring resources will be focussed towards services which contribute most to improving outcomes for local people.
Councillor Bob Sleigh OBE, Leader of the Council, said:
“Along with the rest of the public sector, we face a massive challenge over the next few years to deliver public services with a much lower level of funding than previously. This is particularly the case for adult social care with an increasing demand for services.
“However, these are also exciting times for Solihull, with managed growth in the borough’s economy increasing the income we generate locally. This includes participating in a pilot for full business rates retention from April 2017, as part of our involvement in the West Midlands Combined Authority.
“Our priority as a council is to improve and enrich our residents’ lives and to continue to provide essential services at a consistently high standard. We are committed to make the best use of our resources by aligning them to the needs of the people of Solihull.”
