Over the last 6 years South Glos Council has already cut £63.6m from its annual budget and they're intending to cut another £10.5m per annum across 2018/19 and 2019/20. Even that leaves the council with a predicted hole of £15.7m by 2021/22 so watch out for more cuts being announced.
What do you think the council's priorities should be? Fill in the budget survey to let them know. Your Liberal Democrat Focus Team will be fighting to protect services for the most vulnerable.
Showing posts with label council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label council. Show all posts
Monday, 20 November 2017
Wednesday, 15 November 2017
No online access to council this weekend
Due to essential electrical work all of South Glos Council's online forms will be unavailable this weekend from 6pm on Friday 17 November until 4pm on Sunday 19 November 2017. Open Access will not be available in libraries from Friday evening until Monday morning. IT services will also not be available in libraries in staffed opening hours. South Glos apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Friday, 13 January 2017
Council tax to increase for social care?
Have you had your say on the South Glos budget yet?
An extra question has now been added to the consultation. Last year South Glos took up the option to charge an extra 2% of council tax as an "adult social care precept" to go towards the spiralling costs of providing care to the vulnerable. It had been expected that this would continue at 2% for the following years but in December the Government announced a proposal that councils could introduce the rise sooner – so they could increase council tax by up to 3% in 2017/18 or 2018/19 but still could not exceed 6% in total over the three year period 2017-2020. South Glos want to know your views on this. You can have your say online until 23rd January.
It is hard to see how South Glos can plug the funding gap without taking up this proposal but the Liberal Democrats nationally do not think this is the answer to the crisis in social care. Using council tax to raise the money will disproportionately burden the less well off in our communities and poorer parts of the country will be less able to raise money in this way than wealthier ones. Led by our health spokesperson and former Health Minister Norman Lamb we are pushing for a cross-party agreement on funding for health and social care. Is it time to put a penny on income tax to secure the future of the NHS and social care?
An extra question has now been added to the consultation. Last year South Glos took up the option to charge an extra 2% of council tax as an "adult social care precept" to go towards the spiralling costs of providing care to the vulnerable. It had been expected that this would continue at 2% for the following years but in December the Government announced a proposal that councils could introduce the rise sooner – so they could increase council tax by up to 3% in 2017/18 or 2018/19 but still could not exceed 6% in total over the three year period 2017-2020. South Glos want to know your views on this. You can have your say online until 23rd January.
It is hard to see how South Glos can plug the funding gap without taking up this proposal but the Liberal Democrats nationally do not think this is the answer to the crisis in social care. Using council tax to raise the money will disproportionately burden the less well off in our communities and poorer parts of the country will be less able to raise money in this way than wealthier ones. Led by our health spokesperson and former Health Minister Norman Lamb we are pushing for a cross-party agreement on funding for health and social care. Is it time to put a penny on income tax to secure the future of the NHS and social care?
Thursday, 3 November 2016
Have your say on budget and council tax
South Glos Council is asking for your views on its budget and council tax for 2017/18. You can view the consultation and have your say here until 23rd January 2017.
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
Contacting South Glos online
Increasingly South Glos Council is encouraging people to contact them online. This can save you precious time waiting for a telephone call to be answered. With Street Care problems, sticking a virtual pin in a map also means there's a better chance that the right problem will get fixed.
If you go to the council's home page and click on "Report" it will take you to a list of issues.
The issues are listed alphabetically and many are Street Care ones (it's worth noting that "Spillage and obstruction" includes the problem of a pavement being blocked by an overgrown hedge). You can also report waste issues, such as missed bin collections, and a range of others, including benefit fraud, noise and nuisance complaints and planning enforcement.
In some cases, such as where you're concerned about the safety of a child or vulnerable adult, you still need to make a phone call, but the page gives you a link to more information.
You can also apply for a range of services online, everything from blue badges to joining the library, free school meals to bus passes.
If you go to the council's home page and click on "Report" it will take you to a list of issues.
The issues are listed alphabetically and many are Street Care ones (it's worth noting that "Spillage and obstruction" includes the problem of a pavement being blocked by an overgrown hedge). You can also report waste issues, such as missed bin collections, and a range of others, including benefit fraud, noise and nuisance complaints and planning enforcement.
In some cases, such as where you're concerned about the safety of a child or vulnerable adult, you still need to make a phone call, but the page gives you a link to more information.
You can also apply for a range of services online, everything from blue badges to joining the library, free school meals to bus passes.
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Tax avoiders not welcome
The Liberal Democrats have won cross-party backing for a motion to stop companies involved in tax avoidance bidding for contracts with the council.
Leader Ruth Davis proposed that the council should adopt similar guidelines to central government, where companies bidding for large contracts must self-certify their tax compliance. HMRC estimate that every year, billions of pounds are lost by companies exploiting loopholes, and complying with the letter of the law, instead of the way it was intended.
Ruth said: “The council and the country can’t afford to have companies taking us for a ride. If they want to be paid by the public sector, they have to be paying their taxes properly.”
Leader Ruth Davis proposed that the council should adopt similar guidelines to central government, where companies bidding for large contracts must self-certify their tax compliance. HMRC estimate that every year, billions of pounds are lost by companies exploiting loopholes, and complying with the letter of the law, instead of the way it was intended.
Ruth said: “The council and the country can’t afford to have companies taking us for a ride. If they want to be paid by the public sector, they have to be paying their taxes properly.”
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Budget - council tax up, services cut
Council tax will go up by 3.99% in the coming year, but services such as youth provision and libraries face cuts.
After funding from the Government had been slashed more than expected, at the last minute they offered South Glos some additional one-off money. The Liberal Democrats proposed using some of it to protect youth services and Chipping Sodbury library.
Instead, the Tories funnelled the cash into a 50p a month cut in the green bin charge, less than the price of a chocolate bar.
The Liberal Democrat amendment proposed maintaining the Positive Activities Fund for youth services at the current level, instead of the quarter million pound cuts proposed by the Tories. The youth fund will be cut for each of the next three years, meaning fewer sessions and activities for young people across South Gloucestershire. The amendment would also would have kept Chipping Sodbury Library open for an extra year, giving the local community more time to find a long term solution.
The Liberal Democrats believe in enabling everyone to fulfil their potential in life, whatever their background. Universal youth services are a vital part of this - reaching out to teenagers who may be alienated from school, offering health advice and emotional support and giving our young people a positive focus. The wider community also benefits from supporting our young people. Libraries too are about more than just access to books - they offer many other activities and services, including access to computers for people of all ages to use for studying, applying for jobs and accessing services.
The Conservative councillors largely remained silent, refusing to explain why they felt a small reduction in the green bin charge was more important than youth services, libraries, PCSOs on the beat and a whole string of other ways the money could have been spent. Before the election, we challenged them to explain what they would cut instead, now we know.
You can read how our local paper covered it here.
After funding from the Government had been slashed more than expected, at the last minute they offered South Glos some additional one-off money. The Liberal Democrats proposed using some of it to protect youth services and Chipping Sodbury library.
Instead, the Tories funnelled the cash into a 50p a month cut in the green bin charge, less than the price of a chocolate bar.
The Liberal Democrat amendment proposed maintaining the Positive Activities Fund for youth services at the current level, instead of the quarter million pound cuts proposed by the Tories. The youth fund will be cut for each of the next three years, meaning fewer sessions and activities for young people across South Gloucestershire. The amendment would also would have kept Chipping Sodbury Library open for an extra year, giving the local community more time to find a long term solution.
The Liberal Democrats believe in enabling everyone to fulfil their potential in life, whatever their background. Universal youth services are a vital part of this - reaching out to teenagers who may be alienated from school, offering health advice and emotional support and giving our young people a positive focus. The wider community also benefits from supporting our young people. Libraries too are about more than just access to books - they offer many other activities and services, including access to computers for people of all ages to use for studying, applying for jobs and accessing services.
The Conservative councillors largely remained silent, refusing to explain why they felt a small reduction in the green bin charge was more important than youth services, libraries, PCSOs on the beat and a whole string of other ways the money could have been spent. Before the election, we challenged them to explain what they would cut instead, now we know.
You can read how our local paper covered it here.
Friday, 17 July 2015
Safety check on bad decisions removed
At Wednesday’s South Gloucestershire Council meeting the Conservatives used their majority to remove the rights of opposition councillors to force a rethink on bad decisions.
Previously the lead member for any of the political groups on a committee could “refer up” a decision to full council for further debate, if they felt a mistake had been made or more information was needed to make a properly informed decision. Only a few months ago this safety check was used when the planning committee initially decided to approve the planning application for Top Yard in Westerleigh. Given the chance to review their report and consider case law, officers changed their recommendation from approval to refusal and the application was eventually refused. If our former colleague Alan Lawrance had not had the opportunity to refer up the original decision the application would have been approved and there would have been no way to overturn that.
By referring a decision up to council it also gave a chance for concerned members of the public to go along and have their say. Almost every council in the country has some ability for minority political groups to force administrations to think again. Obviously ultimately the majority view will prevail, as you would expect in a democracy. Sometimes though, having heard differing views or got more information, they make a different decision from their original one. Isn’t that also something you would expect in a democracy? As we saw with Top Yard, referring up was one way to help the council make better decisions. Why is the new administration afraid of that scrutiny?
Previously the lead member for any of the political groups on a committee could “refer up” a decision to full council for further debate, if they felt a mistake had been made or more information was needed to make a properly informed decision. Only a few months ago this safety check was used when the planning committee initially decided to approve the planning application for Top Yard in Westerleigh. Given the chance to review their report and consider case law, officers changed their recommendation from approval to refusal and the application was eventually refused. If our former colleague Alan Lawrance had not had the opportunity to refer up the original decision the application would have been approved and there would have been no way to overturn that.
By referring a decision up to council it also gave a chance for concerned members of the public to go along and have their say. Almost every council in the country has some ability for minority political groups to force administrations to think again. Obviously ultimately the majority view will prevail, as you would expect in a democracy. Sometimes though, having heard differing views or got more information, they make a different decision from their original one. Isn’t that also something you would expect in a democracy? As we saw with Top Yard, referring up was one way to help the council make better decisions. Why is the new administration afraid of that scrutiny?
Friday, 10 July 2015
Council web services and email down this weekend
Major electrical work is taking place across South Glos Council offices this weekend. Many systems including the website, telephones and planning applications will be unavailable from 5:00pm on Friday 10 July until 6:00pm on Sunday 12 July. Apologies if you are trying to contact your Focus Team using our council email addresses.
Friday, 19 December 2014
Planning application submitted for council office solar scheme
The planning application has now been submitted for the proposed solar scheme on land next to the Badminton Road Council Offices at Nibley.
Last week we reported on a meeting we had with officers about the proposals. You can now view the plans and make comments online.If for any reason that link doesn't work, go to the planning application search page and enter the reference number PK14/4785/R3F. You have until 6th January to make comments.
Thursday, 11 December 2014
Solar scheme at Badminton Road
Your Focus Team is campaigning to get the park and ride built, along with other transport schemes in the Yate area. Go to http://letsgetyatemoving-
Wednesday, 27 August 2014
Have your say on council solar schemes
Next week South Glos Council will be holding exhibitions on plans to install ground mounted solar PV schemes on land it owns next to the Badminton Road Council offices and between the M4 and the A4174 Ring Road at Moorend.
The schemes are much smaller than the commercial schemes in the area, approximately 2.5 acres at Badminton Road and 5 at Moorend, compared to over 100 acres at Says Court Farm for example. The aim is to supply electricity for the Badminton Road offices, reducing running costs at a time of rising energy prices and reducing carbon emissions by 700 tonnes a year. Both of the sites are only low grade agricultural land, having been used for landfill or sewage works previously.
The pre-planning consultation runs until 10th September. When the formal plans are submitted in late September there will be the usual opportunity for local residents to comment then too.
The exhibition will be in the reception area of the council offices on Badminton Road on Monday 1 September between 3pm and 7pm and on Tuesday 2 September between 3pm and 8pm.
Your Focus Team has already asked for assurance that the Badminton Road scheme won't stop the Nibley Park and Ride being built in the future.
The schemes are much smaller than the commercial schemes in the area, approximately 2.5 acres at Badminton Road and 5 at Moorend, compared to over 100 acres at Says Court Farm for example. The aim is to supply electricity for the Badminton Road offices, reducing running costs at a time of rising energy prices and reducing carbon emissions by 700 tonnes a year. Both of the sites are only low grade agricultural land, having been used for landfill or sewage works previously.
The pre-planning consultation runs until 10th September. When the formal plans are submitted in late September there will be the usual opportunity for local residents to comment then too.
The exhibition will be in the reception area of the council offices on Badminton Road on Monday 1 September between 3pm and 7pm and on Tuesday 2 September between 3pm and 8pm.
Your Focus Team has already asked for assurance that the Badminton Road scheme won't stop the Nibley Park and Ride being built in the future.
Friday, 15 November 2013
Have your say on council budget
It's time to have your say on the council budget - and this year it's more important than ever to let the council know what your priorities are.
Excluding schools, which are fully funded by direct Government grant, South Glos Council spends over £318 million a year providing local services. £103 million of funding for that comes from central Government grants.
In recent years, those grants have reduced as part of cutting the deficit, and that is set to continue. By the end of 2014/15 the council will have reached a savings target of £43 million, through measures including cutting management levels by 40 percent, improving IT and simplifying processes and administration.
Unfortunately tens of millions of pounds of further savings will have to be made by the end of the decade. This will mean reshaping services or possibly even stopping some of them all together. This budget consultation gives you a chance to say which services you think are most important.
There are a number of ways you can do this:
Excluding schools, which are fully funded by direct Government grant, South Glos Council spends over £318 million a year providing local services. £103 million of funding for that comes from central Government grants.
In recent years, those grants have reduced as part of cutting the deficit, and that is set to continue. By the end of 2014/15 the council will have reached a savings target of £43 million, through measures including cutting management levels by 40 percent, improving IT and simplifying processes and administration.
Unfortunately tens of millions of pounds of further savings will have to be made by the end of the decade. This will mean reshaping services or possibly even stopping some of them all together. This budget consultation gives you a chance to say which services you think are most important.
There are a number of ways you can do this:
- Attend one of the budget roadshows:
Wednesday 20 November, Yate Shopping Centre, 1pm to 4pm
Thursday 21 November, Staple Hill Library, 10am to 1pm
Monday 25 November, Kingswood Shopping Centre, 2pm to 5pm
Tuesday 26 November, Sainsburys, Emersons Green, 1pm to 4pm
Wednesday 27 November, Bradley Stoke Willowbrook Centre, 3pm to 7pm
Thursday 28 November, St Mary’s Shopping Centre, Thornbury, 10am to 1pm
Wednesday 4 December, Patchway Hub, 10am to 1pm.
- Attend one of the Area Forums. The Frome Vale Forum (which includes Westerleigh, Ladden Brook and Frampton Cotterell wards) is at 7pm on Thursday 28th November in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. Severn Vale (which includes Charfield) is at 7pm on December 4 in Severn Beach Primary School.
- Tweet your comments on Twitter using the hashtag #sgcbudget
- Fill in an online survey at www.southglos.gov.uk/budget
- Email: consultation@southglos.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01454 868154
- Write to: FREEPOST RTCT-JXLE-EET South Gloucestershire Council, Budget Consultation, Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 9TR
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