Councillors have agreed on a brand-new budget for the 2024-25 financial year, as Gloucestershire County Council promises that £616 million of funding will be invested into projects and services across the county — an increase of £50 million compared to 2023-24.
Funded through a council tax increase of 2.99 per cent and an additional two per cent from the Adult Social Care Precept, the budget is divided accordingly:
- Over £200 million to support vulnerable adults and older people
- Over £180 million to continue improving services for children with SEND and for children and families in need of protection — as well as support for fostering and adoption services
- £100 million committed to improving roads
- £24 million for school improvements, including solar panel installation, the brand-new special school in Gloucester and a new primary school in Bishop's Cleeve
- £7.5 million towards new fire engines and fire equipment — with £750,000 being put towards a new aerial ladder platform
- £2.2 million to increase frequency of bus timetables
- £2 million towards tackling road safety
- £500,000 towards pothole-tackling tools
Councillor Mark Hawthorne said: 'Unlike many other councils who are struggling to balance the books, we haven’t had to make dramatic cuts to the services you rely on each day — in fact, we will increase our spending this year by £42 million.
'In part, this is thanks to our Energy from Waste plant which has not only stopped Gloucestershire’s rubbish going to landfill, but it has also generated a £15 million boost to our budget.
'We have also worked hard to make sure we’re being as efficient as possible and have successfully identified a further £23 million in efficiencies and additional income.'
