(Title Image: Bridgend Council)
Back in October 2020, Bridgend Council launched the “Fit for the Future” consultation to help shape future budgets and priorities.
The findings are due to be discussed at next week’s Cabinet meeting (pdf) ahead of the 2021-22 council budget (the final version of which is usually published in February each year) and in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
There were 1,831 interactions with the exercise, which is down by as much as 75% on the previous budget consultation.
As for the findings:
- The reaction to Bridgend Council’s pandemic response is mixed-to-positive. 64% were pleased with BCBC communications during the emergency and 70% were pleased with the support provided to communities. However, there was a less-favourable response to levels of support provided to vulnerable residents, town centres and businesses.
- There was an overwhelming response in favour of prioritising businesses support, town centres, leisure facilities and employment in the immediate future.
- Priorities for health and wellbeing should focus on older people (91% agreed), the homeless (81%), food poverty (78%) and people facing difficulty paying council tax (78%). 86% agreed that support from community groups has been vital during the pandemic.
- 60% supported moving to an appointments-based system for accessing Civic Office services.
- People were equally in favour of a 4.5% increase in council tax as set out in current plans (37%) or keeping council tax broadly as it is now (36%). A combined 27% supported council tax increases beyond 4.5%, with 8% of people supporting council tax increases of up to 16%.
The draft council budget for 2021-22 will be discussed by the Cabinet next week, but I’ll return to the full/final budget when it’s published next month.
