YOUR COUNCIL TAX

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1 Working together for a brighter future, a better Barnsley

2 A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY This year s budget is the second year of a two year plan agreed, following the implementation of Barnsley s Future Council on 1 April Future Council has a customer facing structure to deliver our three key priorities, namely: People achieving their potential Thriving and vibrant economy Strong resilient communities The Future Council model has successfully operated over the last 12 months following the creation of the new Business Unit model, which provides improved key outcomes for local people whilst still achieving a balanced budget. However, the backdrop to the successful implementation of our Future Council remains, having to operate with reduced resources. This is the sixth successive year of budget reductions with several more years of significant reductions yet to come. Since 2010 we have had to find savings of 77 million with a further 10 million to be delivered in 2016/17. The Future Council model has enabled us to deliver savings in a planned and effective way, allowing us to mitigate the effects on our residents as much as possible. Despite the financial challenges ahead, we will move forward with the delivery of our corporate plan priorities. We will continue to transform the way we deal with our customers, allowing our residents to access services when they need them. We will provide strong leadership, and engage with our local communities to build a Better Barnsley for everyone, including building on more initiatives like the Love Where You Live campaign. The redevelopment of our town centre is swiftly progressing, with the demolition of the Central Offices now complete and the opening of a new car park on the old CEAG building site. The next phases of the scheme will see the demolition of the multi-storey car park, the Met Centre redevelopment and building of the new library. We have promoted business growth and better jobs in Barnsley and of course we will continue to meet our legal obligations and deliver a high quality service in priority areas, including protecting those that are most vulnerable, providing bin collections and maintaining the borough s roads. There will be an impact on some of our service provision, and unfortunately some activities and services will stop altogether. Whilst we have tried to limit the impact on priority services wherever we can, it s unavoidable that some services will be affected, due to the cuts we ve had to make. In the Central Government Spending Review in December 2015, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced further cuts in Local Government Funding. Based on this announcement, it is currently estimated that Barnsley will see a shortfall in funding by an additional 35 million over the next four years. The Chancellor also announced that whilst the government recognised the pressures councils are under, in relation to the rising costs of caring for our elderly, they chose not to fund these costs directly; instead they have allowed councils to raise additional income by a social care precept. So for 2016/17 we propose to implement a social care precept of 2 per cent, which will generate 1.5 million that will be ring-fenced to fund adult social care pressures. Over and above this we propose an increase of 1.9 per cent to protect other vital front line services. In total this equates to an unavoidable 3.9 per cent increase in Council Tax for 2016/17 or 93p per week for a Band D property. This increases marginally once the police and fire precepts are added. This is undoubtedly a challenging time for the council but we believe our 2016/17 budget will continue to protect services for the most vulnerable and enable a sustainable Future Council to focus on growing our economy and helping people to achieve their potential.

3 OUR SPENDING PLANS FOR 2016/17 Revised What we anticipate spending in 2016/17 Explanation 2015/16 Spend Income Net Variance On 1 April 2015 the council was structured around the operation of nine business units. Each of these new business units has specific responsibilities in relation to the delivery of services to members of public within Barnsley. The business units will be supported by a lean and efficient core. The key responsibilities of each business unit is highlighted below. 000 PEOPLE Education and Early Start Prevention 9, , ,518 8,346-1,583 Services include early year provision, education policy, youth services and targeted youth services Adult Assessment and Care Management 30,799 51,235-18,873 32,362 1,563 Safeguarding vulnerable adults, giving people choice and control, improved outcomes enabling people to regain independence Children Assessment and Care Management 18,879 21,737-2,540 19, Safeguarding children as well as supporting children in care PEOPLE TOTAL 59, , ,931 59, PLACE Economic Regeneration 1,980 15,368-13,176 2, Culture, Housing & Regulatory Services 1,668 7,616-6,255 1, Environment & Transport 29,056 53,159-26,201 26,958 PLACE TOTAL 32,704 76,143-45,632 30,511-2,098-2,193 Managing the local development plan including overall management of the town centre redevelopment, jobs and skills and business growth Provision of leisure and other cultural services, bereavement services, Barnsley housing standards programme and trading standards and pollution/air control Management of the Borough s road infrastructure and waste and recycling services COMMUNITES Customer Services 9,219 15,440-6,240 9,200 Safer, Stronger & Healthier Communities 4,627 16,091-12,935 3,156 COMMUNITIES TOTAL 13,846 31,531-19,175 12, ,471-1,490 Being the first point of contact for all council services, as well as providing in-house care services for vulnerable adults Developing the area governance and area based commissioning offer (area councils) as well as pro-active management of anti-social behaviour PUBLIC HEALTH 0 6,068-4,687 1,381 1,381 CORE SERVICES 21, , ,481 20,117-1,533 Provision of health protection and improvement services Elections, council tax & benefits together with overall support to front line services (Funded 100% by specific grant in 2016/17) Net Cost of Services 127, , , ,270-3,537

4 IMPLICATIONS OF THE 2016/2017 SPENDING PLANS FOR COUNCIL TAX PAYERS In order to work out how much council tax we need to raise to pay for the net cost of services, we have to: Take into account other items of corporate expenditure such as interest payments; Add in the grants that the Government will give us to meet our spending commitments; Add on the amounts that we will raise on behalf of the South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the South Yorkshire Fire Authority. Band D Council Tax Equivalent 2015/ / Band D Council Tax Equivalent 2016/17 2, Budgeted Net Cost of Services 124,270 2, Precepts and Levies Other Operating Expenditure/Capital Financing Contributions 43, from Balances/Reserves and Provisions Amount to be Met 2, from Gov Grant and Local Taxpayers 168,276 2, Income fr om: -1, RSG & NNDR -88,649-1, Collection Fund Surplus -1, , Funds Required by Barnsley MBC 76,510 1, Funds Required by Barnsley MBC - Additional Social Care 1, , Levy Total Funds Required by Barnsley MBC 78,012 1, Funds Required by SY Police & Crime Commissioner 9, Funds Required by SY Fire Authority 4, , Amount to be raised from Council Tax 1,310 1, Council Tax Base

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6 COUNCIL TAX The Council Tax requirement for Barnsley Council for 2016/17 is million. This represents an increase of 3.9 per cent in Band D equivalent Council Tax for the Council s services compared to 2015/16. This increase reflects a 1.9 per cent increase to support the costs of general council services together with a 2 per cent increase to fund the specific increase in costs related to Adult Social Care. The Council Tax requirements for the South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the South Yorkshire Fire Authority are million and million, equating to increases of 3.4 per cent and 1.97 per cent respectively. HOW CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO THE COUNCIL IS REDUCING m COUNCIL TAX 2015/16 COUNCIL TAX 2016/17 BMBC CENTRAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES 2010 / / / / / / / / / /20 Projected Projected Projected BAND A BAND A BAND B BAND C BAND D BAND E BAND F BAND G BAND H / / / / / / / / /20 Projected Projected Projected ANNUAL REDUCTION IN FUNDING YEAR ON YEAR The above figures show that by 2019/20 government funding will have been cut by 60 per cent

7 CAPITAL INVESTMENT In addition to the day to day expenditure summarised in previous sections, the Council also undertakes a wide range of capital investment including such schemes as improvements to existing council houses and highways. THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME FUNDING 2016/ /19 The major capital schemes due to commence or continue from 2016/17 onwards include: Economic Plan (including Town Centre Regeneration); Council Housing Investment Programme; Highways Maintenance; THE COUNCIL S CAPITAL INVESTMENT OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD TO 2018/19 IS ESTIMATED AT 203M % 13.84% 7.86% 32.08% SCHOOLS 6.202M ROADS M COUNCIL HOUSES M ECONOMIC PLAN M OTHER 1.583M 4.34% 0.39% Reserves Borrowing funded from Council Resources Capital Grants from Government Other contributions from Government (incl major repairs reserve) Third Party contributions Capital Receipts from sale of assets

8 MAKING IT EASIER FOR YOU TO CONTACT US As part of our commitment to improve your experience, we re making it easier for you to access some council services online - putting you in control and helping you get the information you need. To sign up to these services, simply create and verify your online account. All you need to do is visit www. barnsley.gov.uk/my-bentax to get you started. Some of the benefits are: Secure online accounts create an account that s secure and gives you easy access to your council services such as Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Business Rates. E-billing once you have created your secure online account, you can receive your Council Tax and/or Business Rates bill by and make payments using the direct link from your e-bill. Pay your Council Tax bill Direct Debit option you can choose to pay by Direct Debit monthly and for Council Tax we are now offering weekly and fortnightly frequencies. Come and join the 57,000 customers already enjoying the benefits of paying by Direct Debit. OTHER KEY COUNCIL SERVICE CONTACTS Have your say You can also raise any issues you might have on any aspect of the council s activities, by scrolling to the Get Involved part of the website and finding the Consultation section. Make an appointment to see an advisor on By Telephone Switchboard Dog Fouling Graffiti Refuse Collection Road Repairs If you need help understanding this document please contact Financial Services Further details can be found at