COUNCIL bosses have described the latest budget as an ‘investment’ into the town’s future - and they say they’re known for ‘leading the way’ with long-term plans and innovative projects.
A proposed 3.4 per cent council tax increase will help the council set a balanced budget, as well as allow them to invest into a range of services.
At next Wednesday’s meeting, councillors will discuss the investment - and leader Sir Steve Houghton says the council are taking ‘proactive measures’ to ensure stability in the years ahead.
As part of the budget, additional investment will be put into the council’s Great Childhoods Ambition scheme.
The council’s MiCard scheme, which launched last August, is set to run for another year while school uniform grants - which saw parents receive a boost to pay for their child’s school uniform - are also to be continued.
Year 11 pupils will once again receive support packs and the budget will allow for another year of covering the cost of Base71 membership for youngsters across the town.
But the council say it’s not just young people who will benefit from the budget.
Pensioners will receive a cost-of-living allowance and working-age people eligible for council tax support will receive it once again.
Sir Steve said: “This is an investment budget that continues to back Barnsley’s future.
“We’re investing in areas such as our Great Childhoods Ambition to improve the lives and futures of our children and young people and making your communities look and feel better through our Love Where You Live investment. ( “Throughout the year, we’ll be looking to make decisions on investment packages to continue making our health on the high street vision a reality, delivering our ambition to be the UK’s leading digital town ambition at The Seam Digital Campus, building on the great work already planned at Goldthorpe with a masterplan to 2040, and starting phase four of our successful Principal Towns programme.”
A total of £10.3m will be spent on the council’s highways capital programme.
This includes £2m from the reserves to help improve roads and address issues such as potholes.
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector will see their support extended once the government relief scheme comes to an end at the end of March.
While a total of £55m will be spent to invest in council housing - including a £24m repairs programme.
Sir Steve added: “The medium-term financial strategy also outlines that the next three years are not going to be easy for local government or Barnsley.
“We’ll be facing significant challenges due to increased demand pressures from children and adult social care, while considering the impact of national decisions.
“But we’ve always been a financially well-managed council, and we’re taking early, proactive measures to try to provide stability in future years.
“Throughout our planning, our priorities remain clear - protect vital services, helping people, places and communities to thrive, making Barnsley the place of possibilities.”
