BCP Council has approved a four hour budget meeting, setting a £425M spending plan for the next financial year.
Councillors voted by 39 to 20, with eight abstentions, to back a 6.74 per cent increase in council tax, deliver £14 million in savings and remove the tax discount on beach huts. Amendments from the Greens, Labour and Conservative groups were all rejected.
The Greens proposed removing lead member special responsibility allowances and using £35,000 in a governance and assurance reserve. Labour suggested using £5 million raised from an additional 1.75 per cent council tax increase for potholes, playgrounds and libraries. A Conservative amendment to limit the rise to 4.99 per cent was ruled unsuitable and high risk.
Councillor Mike Cox described the process as a mammoth task and said the authority remains technically insolvent despite government support. Councillor Jeff Hanna said the opposition had failed to produce a coherent and sustainable alternative. Councillor Sue Aitkenhead said the funding system is broken but residents are not at fault.
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