Bath and North East Somerset Council has launched its budget consultation on the draft proposals for the next financial year, with views on council tax levels, savings and how to raise income being sought.

The council faces escalating costs in its children and adult services.

The consultation is on the operational spend of the council’s day-to-day services, known as the revenue budget. It does not refer to one-off spending on infrastructure such as transport projects.

There are two types of growth proposals being consulted on with a total value of £13,764,000.

This is to address increased costs and demands primarily due to growth pressures, which come as a result of the cost of social care. This is including placements for children and young people with special needs, as well as home to school transport.

The council agreed its 2024/25 budget in February and at the same time set out savings and income generation plans, as well as funding requirements, to achieve a balanced budget for 2025/26.

However, since then it has faced escalating costs and has had to look again at additional savings and ways to raise income. These were set out in the medium term financial strategy  which was reported to cabinet in September.

In order to help meet the additional funding requirement in 2025/26, and subject to confirmation through the funding settlement, £3.8m of funding, estimated as a result of the Autumn budget, has also been identified.

This still leaves a funding gap, therefore the council is now consulting on council tax, savings, and income measures designed to deliver a balanced budget.

Even with these proposed changes, the council would have the fourth lowest council tax in the South West unitary councils.

The proposals include increasing green bin charges from £57 to £70 a year, a rise in charges for residents’ parking permits, and a council tax rise totalling 4.99%, including the adult social care precept.

Each of the saving and income items set out impacts and Equality Impact Assessments which the cabinet and council will consider when decisions are made on the budget in February.

The final budget proposals from 2025 to 2026 will also reflect any other changes to the council’s finances. This includes the level of central government funding, which should be confirmed later in December.

Proposals will be scrutinised by the Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel on Tuesday January 28, before going to the cabinet and council.

To view their savings and income proposals and to respond to the consultation, go to the budget consultation pages on the B&NES website.

The consultation will close at 5pm on January 20.

The detailed budget proposals will be drawn up and presented for consideration by councillors at the following meetings: