Plan to raise Devon council tax five per cent

Budget still has to be agreed

Extra cash for pothole repairs across Devon has been found as part of the proposed budget for Devon County Council which will see average council tax rise five per cent.

Councillors hope to spend an additional £1.3 million over that the amount they'd previously agreed, including an extra £600,000 to tackle potholes and drainage issues on roads. Spending increases for children’s services and adult health and care have already been given the green light.

Leader of the council, Cllr John Hart (Conservative) told a meeting of the ruling cabinet this week: “Over the past couple of months, I’ve met with parish and town councils across Devon as well as representatives from business, the voluntary sector, the trades unions and older people to consult on the budget.

“Our scrutiny committees have also made recommendations on spending they would like to see, and we were to find a little extra money and we have put some of it in the highways budget for potholes and drainage

“My job is to balance all these spending pressures against what it is reasonable to ask people to contribute in council tax.

“Keeping our roads in a decent state of repair is a never-ending job and there is never enough money to complete the job. But it’s vital for all our residents and it’s vital for our businesses. I hope that this extra cash – if it’s approved by the council – will help us meet people’s expectations.”

The £600,000 for potholes and drainage means the spending in that sector increases. £100,000 for towns and parishes for maintenance work and £600,000 for district councils to top up the £1.7 million emergency fund to support the people who may receive universal credit has also been included.

Cllr Hart added: “It’s clear that the effects of the pandemic are going to be felt for some time to come. We set up the emergency fund this year with £1 million from the county and £750,000 from the government.

“We worked with our colleagues in the district councils to ensure that this money got to the people who needed it most who had been the hardest hit by Covid-19.

The impact of the coronavirus outbreak is continuing to put a huge financial strain on some people, with work and income changing overnight as a result of the lockdown. So we’re looking particularly at a continuing crisis fund to help people between being made redundant and receiving universal credit.

The budget is predicated on a 4.99 per cent council tax rise, made of up three per cent ringfenced for adult services and 1.99 per cent for the running of the rest of the council. It means that the Devon County Council share of the council tax bill for 2021/22 for Band D will rise by £71.82 to £1,511.28.

Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said that the "U-turn" on the highways cut was appreciated, while Cllr Frank Biederman, leader of the Independent group, said it was welcomed as the false economy of not spending the money was ripping the roads apart.

The draft budget, unanimously agreed by the cabinet, of £580.8 million which will now mean an extra £37.3 million compared to the 2020/21 budget.

The full council will meet on Thursday, February 18 to debate and determine the final budget proposals.