Worcester City councillors have unanimously approved a £10.75 million budget for 2021-22, including a range of initiatives to help the city recover from the impact of the Covid pandemic.
Major initiatives to regenerate parts of the city centre, more and improved housing, and improvements to the Astwood Crematorium will all be supported by the 2021-22 budget, which will also ensure that essential services from bin collections to support for the homeless can continue to be delivered.
The budget includes a small rise in the City Council's element of residents' Council Tax bills.
Councillor Marc Bayliss, Leader of the City Council, said: "Once again all political parties on the Council have worked together to build a budget that responds to the needs of the city and which, in particular, seeks to support businesses and communities that have been impacted by the pandemic.
"Extra money for the CAB and the £70,000 which councillors will be able to allocate in their communities to support recovery are things I am very pleased to see included. The inclusion of the delivery of the Future High Streets Fund monies and the Cultural Development Fund will also make a significant difference as we seek to recover from the impact of Covid."
Councillor Adrian Gregson, Deputy Leader of the City Council, said: "This year's agreement to set a balanced budget takes account of the impact of Covid on some of the most vulnerable communities in the city as well as trying to provide the opportunities to recover, socially and economically, while retaining the ambition for a more vibrant future.
"Delivering year-on-year improvements is always difficult in a restricted financial environment which may bring challenging decisions on the horizon."
In the coming year, the Council will invest more than ever in the city. Major improvements will be made as part of the City Council's budget for 2021-22, including
- £16.8m contribution to the regeneration of Angel Place and the surrounding area (supported by the Government's Future High Streets Fund)
- £1.9m contribution to the demolition of the old Sansome Walk swimming pool, enabling the site to be used for housing
- £1.3m contribution to The Arches – Worcester project, creating a new destination at the city's historic Victorian railway arches (supported by the Government's Cultural Development Fund)
- £688,000 to improve homes for residents
- £158,000 on new litter bins, including new compactor bins in the city centre
- £125,000 in improvements to Astwood Cemetery & Crematorium.
Council Tax
The City Council's element of Council Tax will increase by around 1p a day, as permitted by the Government, giving an annual rise of £5.00 for a band D property.
The increase in the City Council's element of residents' Council Tax bills for each property band is:
- Band A - £3.34
- Band B - £3.89
- Band C - £4.45
- Band D - £5.00
- Band E - £6.11
- Band F - £7.22
- Band G - £8.34
- Band H - £10.00
