Residents asked to comment on unitary council’s first ever budget

On April 1, the unitary council will take over delivering services in the Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire districts, with the existing councils all being abolished. A similar sized unitary for the North of the county is also being created.

Officials released the details of the first draft budget shortly before Christmas, which includes a maximum increase in council tax and social care precepts. But the authority says that it is saving money by amalgamating four council services into one, and that no services are being reduced.

Councillor Ian McCord, the Conservative leader of the West Northamptonshire shadow authority, said: “With just three months left to go, we will be continuing our focus on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to build public services from the ground up and in a manner that is fit for the 21st century needs of our residents.

“It means our residents will be able to access all their service needs in one place. And with COVID and the wider economic landscape we have our jobs cut out for us.

“Instead of eight elected bodies with the associated costs running the county, we will now be amalgamated into two. Instead of eight chief executives and boards of directors, from April 1 there will be just two.

“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, this transformation will go well beyond April 2021 and will see every single public service in Northamptonshire rejuvenated. This budget sets a solid foundation for those ambitions to be built upon.”

Proposals include a proposed council tax increase of 4.99 per cent, comprising 1.99 per cent core tax and a three per cent adult social care precept. This is the maximum that is allowed without holding a referendum.

For residents across West Northamptonshire, this would mean an average Band D level of council tax of £1,566.39 annually, which is an increase of £74.45 for the year or the equivalent of £1.43 per week.

However, due to the differing levels of council tax being administered by the district and boroughs, these need to be ‘harmonised’ over an eight year period. As Daventry currently pays the lowest levels, it faces potentially bigger increases over the coming years compared to Daventry and Northampton.

There will also be dedicated questions about the new authority’s housing programme for 2021/22. The estimated cost of managing and operating the housing stock is £54.7 million which is funded mainly through housing rents.

The budget includes a proposal, which is subject to this consultation, for rent increases of 1.5 per cent on average for council house tenants and an increase in general service charges of 0.5 per cent.

The council proposes to deliver up to 200 new homes at a cost of £34.1 million financed from the £59.8 million capital programme.

Councillor Rebecca Breese, shadow portfolio holder for finance, human resources and corporate services said: “The consultation stage of the budget setting process is immensely important as it allows people to have their say on the proposals so that they can be further refined before final approval in February.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to take part and help shape services for our new authority which comes into being on April 1st.”

Residents can share their views by completing the online survey at https://futurenorthants.citizenspace.com/west/budget-2021-2022They can also write to: Budget Consultation Response, West Northamptonshire Shadow Authority, Consultation & Engagement Team, One Angel Square, 4 Angel Street, Northampton, NN1 1ED.

The deadline for completing the questionnaire is midnight on February 2.