TAXPAYERS are being asked to have their say on plans to again raise council tax in Gloucestershire by 3.99 per cent.

Last week, cabinet at Gloucestershire County Council approved the proposed annual budget for 2017/18, and a consultation has now launched for people to give their views.

Shire Hall is also suggesting a 1.99 per cent council tax increase and an adult social care levy of 2 per cent on top.

You can complete the consultation at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/budget2017

The total 3.99 per cent increases is equivalent to a hike of £45.25 per year or £3.77 per month for the average household bill.

It comes against a backdrop of sustained slashes to the Conservative-led county council’s funding from Central Government.

GCC is expected to see its funding reduced by £17.3m in one year – a huge cut of 14.5 per cent.

All together this leaves a proposed budget of £397.1 million - £11.3 million less than 2016/17 and an overall cut of 2.8 per cent of the total purse.

As a result of the cuts, huge chunks of cash are being axed from the children and families budget.

This funding - which includes money for schools, youth support, children’s centres and early years –will be cut overall by 13.3 per cent, or £4.6 million.

Communities and Infrastructure – which deals with highways, trading standards, libraries, fire service and waste – will also see its budget reduced by £1.25 million.

Funding for Public Health will be cut by 2.5 per cent and money to support businesses in the county is also being reduced by 3.3 per cent.

There are some gains however, with a small 0.26 per cent increase in the budget for adult social care.

An extra £2 million will also be invested in supporting and protecting vulnerable children – an increase of 4 per cent.

The Conservatives say there will be investments into social workers and support for children in care, employment, transitions for people with learning disabilities and more mental health professionals.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Conservative deputy leader and cabinet member for finance on GCC, said: “Our priority is to make sure we continue to improve the quality of life for people and communities in Gloucestershire.

“The council has to focus resources on the most vulnerable adults and children in our county; however we know that both businesses and residents want to see further improvements made to our roads.”

The Labour Group, which has three county councillors in the Stroud district, has criticised the budget, arguing residents can see clearly that public services are being slashed.

Steve Lydon, County councillor for Dursley, said: “Readers don't need me to tell them that the funding is being cut further, they can see it in the shabby state of our roads and the lack of care for elderly residents.”

Gloucestershire currently charges £41 per year less than the average county council, including the levy.

Government is allowing local councils to continue the adult social care levy, which was introduced last year in recognition that social care continues to be the greatest pressure on local councils with more and more people requiring support later in life.

Continuing the levy raises an additional £4.98 million that can only be spent on vulnerable adults, paying for things like social and residential care.

Included in the draft is provision for an income of an estimated £60 million from selling assets “which will be used to repay debt and/or finance capital expenditure to avoid borrowing”.

Last year the council increased  council tax for the first time in six years. The increase included a 2% national adult social care levy specifically to support vulnerable adults.

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  • Budget overview

Adult services - £132,326 million

Public Health - £24,912 million

Children & Families – £86,654 million

Communities & Infrastructure - £77,759 million

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  • Adult social care precept explained

The government has allowed councils which provide social care to adults to increase their share of council tax by up to an extra 2% in comparison to last year’s council tax. This additional council tax charge is called the adult social care precept.

This precept is shown as a separate charge on your council tax bill and is included in your monthly council tax payments.

The income generated from this charge is ring-fenced, meaning it can only be used for adult social care services.