The budget for the next financial year aims to protect council services in Uttlesford, while also providing additional resource to support residents through the cost-of-living crisis.

Uttlesford District Council's budget plans for 2023/2024 take into account significant pressures the council is facing from factors outside its control, such as high inflation and rising utility bills. Funding from central government has also been significantly reduced over a number of years.

The council has put forward a budget for the coming financial year which maintains current levels of service and is closely aligned to the council's Corporate Plan - which identifies key priorities including climate change initiatives and support for businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic.

Within the budget papers is also a proposal for a below-inflation council tax increase of £5 a year - about 10p a week - for the average Band D property. 

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This will generate an additional £195,000 that would be put into a Cost of Living Support Fund to provide council tax discounts to households who may be experiencing hardship, with a particular focus on those who are not eligible for other forms of support.

This is in addition to discounts for vulnerable and low income residents through the council's local council tax support scheme.

Cllr Neil Hargreaves, portfolio holder for finance and the budget, said: "We understand the financial pressures many residents are facing, so we are proposing a fourth year of council tax increases held down to about 10p per week.

"This very modest increase will allow vital services provided by the district council to continue whilst also helping us to support residents through this difficult period.

Council budgets are under more pressure than ever and elsewhere many are having to make some very difficult decisions. We have a strong history of good financial management and have built an excellent commercial investment portfolio which has helped put us in a stronger position than many similar local authorities.

"Just like everyone else, we are experiencing rising costs and demands outside of our control.

"There remains uncertainty ahead, not least the unknown outcome of the government’s long-awaited funding review for councils.

"We’ve had to use some reserves to balance the books this year, which is what the money is set aside to do, but like any responsible authority, we will continue to be diligent in looking for efficiencies, making the best use of the resources we have, and looking for new ways to raise income."

The budget papers, including the proposals for the 2023/2024 financial year, the medium term financial strategy - which sets out how the council will manage its finances over the next five years - and the commercial strategy, have been discussed by the council's scrutiny committee.

They will next be considered by the Cabinet on Thursday, February 9. The budget will then be debated and voted on by all councillors at a meeting on February 21.

The report and papers can be viewed on the council's website at uttlesford.gov.uk.