Council Budget

Every year the Council formulates a budget. This aims to provide financial stability and long term prosperity while delivering services within affordable limits.

The budget setting process passes through a number of stages and takes account of factors such as funding available from the Government and local taxpayers, key local priorities and changes in legislation.

Budget book (Estimates)

A proposed budget (also known as the Estimates) is approved by Members at the end of February or beginning of March. Every year the Council publishes an Estimates book setting out, in detail, the agreed budget for the forthcoming financial year.

The budget proposal provides further detail and amendments such as additional policy options or savings agreed to the original Estimates.

The 2011-12 and 2012-13 budget Resolution Proposals can be found included within the Estimates 2011-12 and Estimates 2012-13.

Council Tax

After the Estimates and budget are agreed the level of the Council Tax is set. The Council Tax Explained booklet is produced each year and sent to all Council tax payers.

Download the Council Tax Explained 2013-2014 booklet.

Changes for 2012-13

You can read more about Council Tax elsewhere on this website.

Section 251 Budget Statement 

This document (previously known as the Section 52 Statement) provides information on the planned Schools Budget and the financing of local authority schools using a local funding formula.

A separate statement is also produced at the year end to show actual schools expenditure.

Local authorities are required under Section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 to prepare and publish these statements.

The April 2012 'Scheme for Financing Schools' is also available to download from this page.