The council are asking for the views of residents in South Ribble on the budget plans as they look to help the borough recover from the pandemic.
AdvertisementOver £8 million is being pledged to go towards creating affordable homes for local people, improving our parks and open spaces, and supporting businesses.
More funding will also be made available for community groups and sports clubs that have been affected by the pandemic.
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South Ribble Borough Council believes its transformation of how it operates and good financial management mean it can support local communities when they need it most.
The proposals set out include:
The plans do also suggest a 1.99% increase in council tax (equivalent to 9 pence per week on South Ribble Borough Council’s portion of the bill) and freezes on fees and charges.
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Councillor Paul Foster, leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: “We’ve already set the ball rolling with major developments such as the refurbishment of Worden Hall, Leyland Town Deal and the new extra care scheme but this additional funding will put us on the front foot and go right to the heart of our communities, supporting those who have given so much during the pandemic.
“It also means each and every part of the borough will see investment in the local area to bolster that community spirit and pride that we have all felt even more strongly as we have supported each other through the pandemic.
“The factor we have to consider is that the Government is expecting us to put up council tax by 1.99% and they assume this in their calculations when distributing funding around the country – if we don’t increase it we could be penalised by receiving less funding in the future.”
The consultation will run until 10 February and can be viewed at southribble.gov.uk/consultations.
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What would like to see the council spend money on? Let us know in the comments below.