Council sets budget for coming year

Published on 27 February 2020

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has set its budget for providing essential services at £9.8m for the coming year.

A Council Tax increase of 1.9% has also been agreed - setting Band D payments at £153.40 for 2020/21 which equates to a rise of £2.86 or five pence per week.

Councillor Sybil Ralphs, Leader of the Council, said: "In setting our budgets, we are always mindful of the need to use public funds wisely and in the best interests of our residents and businesses.

"We have been able to keep the increase in council tax as low as possible as a result of this prudent approach which has seen us achieve savings of over £6 million as a result of our strategic alliance with High Peak Borough Council.

"Further savings of £200,000 from the establishment of our waste collection company Alliance Environmental Services and £500,000 from reviewing our leisure services contracts have also been realised and we will continue to take an active approach to identifying further opportunities to save money and introduce new efficiencies."

The District Council collects Council Tax on behalf of the County Council, Parish and Town Councils, Police and Fire Authorities but only spends 9% of the total.

This expenditure is used to provide services including affordable housing, waste and recycling, street cleaning, leisure centres, parks maintenance, support for local businesses, crime prevention activities, benefits services and elections.