Wiltshire Council budgets still out of control

The Conservative administration at WC is failing to get a grip on its finances, with the latest position showing a £4million overspend and a deliberate policy to raid the council's reserves to get a year-end balance.

New Year New School Tax

As of January 1st the administration is introducing (without any consultation) a new tax of £10,000 to be paid by schools which move from Local Authority support into the nationalised Academy system.

There is, from the council's point of view if not from that of Wiltshire residents, some good news. The Green Bin tax is bringing in more revenue than expected, higher charges for adult care are raising extra money, as are ever-increasing fees at leisure centres.

The main overspending departments are:

Childrens social care - £2million.

Legal services - £335,000.

Disabled children and adults - £2.3million.

"Restructure and Contingency" - £686,000.

The level of reserves available to be looted currently stands at about £12million.

There are more details in the cabinet agenda for December 13th 2016 available on the WC website here. See agenda item 14.