Councillor, have you budgeted for lost appeals?
It is “budget season” at the Councils… Traditionally a period when the Councillors who are in charge of finances, the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance/Resource is very busy searching behind the sofas for loose change trying to make sure the budget is balanced and financial obligations are met for the next municipal year. They are considering things you don’t really want to do to make ends meet… Parking charges are going to increase, only really bad potholes will be fixed, cuts to library services, park maintenance, recycling collection will be once a month and then you have to put Council Tax up by the maximum you are allowed… 4.99%... This is NOT going to be popular with the voters!
Now, if you would please, find your manifesto from the last election and look at what you promised and flick through your leaflets and check all the things you promised to do for your ward during the election campaign. How is that all looking? How much of that have you delivered? That new play area in the park you promised and the new pavements… the pedestrian crossing you campaigned for, the promise to have weekly recycling collection reinstated… The improved bus services you said you’ll get?
Not looking very good because the money isn’t there. The Council can barely meet their statutory obligations on education and adult social services. Temporary accommodation and Housing have gone up by an eyewatering amount (and yes, it has happened in YOUR council, it has happened in EVERY council…by a LOT).
So, picture the scene if you like… The budget setting Full Council Meeting this month, you have to vote through cuts, you can’t deliver on your election manifesto commitments, and you can forget about those things you promised for you voters AND you are voting through a Council Tax increase.
Now for the bad news…
Have you allocated money for lost planning appeals in your budget? Standard going rate for one of these starts at about £200k and on the really big old ones, you could reach seven figures. That needs to then be found somewhere in the budget meaning more cuts half-way through the year… But it goes further because if you look in your budget carefully, they have counted the S106/CiL income in the budget and if you don’t approve the planning applications, you won’t get that money… leaving even more holes in your budget.
And that S106/CiL is also your only hope of delivering some of the goodies you promised in your manifesto and leaflets.
So, my advice is start thinking very carefully before you turn planning applications down! They may keep a handful of local residents happy but in the greater scheme of things, you are NOT doing your residents a favour!
Happy budget setting!
Henry
07736121014