Leader ‘proud’ of last ever South Northamptonshire Council budget

The 2020/21 budget for South Northamptonshire Council was agreed at The Forum in Towcester this week

The authority (SNC) is one of three district and borough councils that will be scrapped next year to be replaced by a new unitary authority.

West Northamptonshire Council will serve the South Northants area, as well as Daventry district and Northampton borough.

Speaking at the budget meeting on Wednesday (February 26), SNC leader Councillor Ian McCord said: “In our last budget we should be very proud of what we leave behind. We are not leaving the coffers bare, there are reserves we are leaving behind. We should be bringing the South Northamptonshire culture into the new unitary.”

Leader Councillor Ian McCord said SNC was 'not leaving the coffers bare' for its replacement council

The £16 million revenue budget proposes a £5 increase in the level of council tax (2.6 per cent) for a band D property in the district, which means the new bill to SNC will be £196.33 a year. The council tax increase means SNC brings in £7.3 million in council tax.

Other income streams included £4.7 million in business rates and £3.8 million in New Homes Bonus.

Finance portfolio holder Councillor Peter Rawlinson said: “We have lost virtually all our grants funding and we rely on these now to keep us going.

“We are not gambling with our budget and it will be the same sensible, professional budget that will improve the facilities that our residents value.

“You’re not going to get any charges for waste collection here like in Northampton.”

He added that the fairer funding formula coming in next year should mean that the new unitary’s starting position shouldn’t be the sum of all the deficits for each council’s respective medium term financial plan.

No alternative budget was put forward by opposition councillors.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Lofts said: “I broadly support this budget and the aims it takes to ensure that the funds we have accrued over the years are spent for the benefit of the residents of South Northamptonshire.

“If you look at the medium term financial plan it shows how challenging future funding will be, and the deficit grows a lot. The unitary will not be a solution on its own. Conservative led austerity has produced a financial legacy that will follow into it.”

The budget also includes £947,000 in ‘efficiency savings’ and budget reductions. £303,000 of these relate to vacant job positions being deleted, while £53,000 is being cut on spending with consultancy firms.