Council seeks to protect and maintain frontline services and to continue to invest in the Borough despite central Government cuts that are far worse than anticipated.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council set its budget for 2017/2018 yesterday evening (Tuesday 14 February) at a Full Council meeting. 

Councillors voted by 26 votes (for) to 6 votes (against) to accept the budget. 

The Council’s core funding from the Government has reduced from £2.3million in 2015/16 to £1.4 million in 2017/18. In addition, reductions in the Government’s New Homes Bonus sees a further loss in this Council’s income of £700,000 in 2017/18. 

In setting the budget, Councillors ensured that the Council Tax for this Borough will remain below the average for Surrey.  

Notwithstanding the Government reductions in funding, this position has been achieved in part by the increase in income generated from the Council’s commercial activities and the investment by the Council in preventing homelessness in the borough, significantly reducing our costs. 

In setting the budget, Councillors have agreed a 2.7% increase of Council Tax (Borough Council portion) – this is the equivalent of less than 10p per week (Band D property). 

Councillor Eber Kington, Chair of the Strategy & Resources Committee, in presenting the budget said

“The Budget you have before you makes some very important service enhancements and very clear policy commitments, including 

• The introduction of a ‘simply weekly’ recycling service,
  at a time when other Councils are moving to three weekly 

• The roll out of a new transport vehicles and Routecall Flexi Route scheduling system 

• Working with private sector landlords to increase the supply of affordable housing

• A £70K refurbishment of Longmead Social Centre 

• £174k improvement works at Depot Road car park, and replacing the pay and display machines at Depot Road and Upper High Street

• £110k refurbishment of the pond in Roseberry Park 

• £46k refurbishment of tennis and basketball courts in Alexander Recreation Ground. 

“In addition, our commitment to support the most vulnerable members of our community continues: 

• We will be providing Disabled Facility Grants, using £535k to help people live independently in their own homes 

• We will provide £25k to the East Surrey Outreach Service to assist with rough sleepers, a sum money previously funded from government grant but which has now ceased. 

“Our commercialism agenda will continue:

• We are committed to an additional £60m of borrowing to fund our ambitious commercial acquisitions to help generate income to fund services important to our residents 

• We are using £172k of the net income from our two recently purchased Commercial Properties to balance the budget and support services 

• Looking to buy three residential properties to be used as temporary emergency accommodation 

• Generating new income from a pest control referral service.

“I recommend this budget to the Council; efficiency savings of £381K, no cuts in services; and an increase in the council tax of £4.95 at Band D … which equates to 10p a week for all the services provided by this efficient and effective Residents Association led Borough Council”. 

Council tax funds three bodies, with the smallest percentage going to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council – 76% goes to Surrey County Council, Surrey Police receive 13% and this Council receives 11%.

Information from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

The budget report can be found here