2022-23 Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022-23 to 2026-27

Status: Closed

This consultation sets out Cabinet’s consultation proposals for the 2022-23 budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (“MTFS”) for 2022 to 2027 for the General Fund (“GF”) and the Housing Revenue Account (“HRA”). The proposals are for consultation and Cabinet will consider the results of the consultation at its meeting in early February 2022 before making a budget recommendation to Full Council on 23 February 2022.

The following stakeholders will be consulted:

a)Business associations as required by Section 34 Local Government
Finance Act 1988;
b) The public via the Council’s website;
c) Parish and Town Councils;
d) Wealden Local Strategic Partnership;
e) Council staff through the Employee Consultative Group; and
f) HRA Stakeholders.

Results reports:

• Wealden District Council Cabinet Agenda 9 February 2022 - item 3.

Key findings and changes made:

There 86 responses in total from across the spectrum of stakeholders:

36% of respondents supported the Council setting a budget for 2022/23 with a
£5 (2.53%) increase in Council Tax for Wealden’s part of the Council Tax. The
main reason that the respondents (63%) didn’t support the increase was the
additional pressure this would place on households in the context of the
current economic environment.

52% of respondents felt there were areas where the Council should spend
more money and suggested additional resources be spent on the following:
-Mitigate climate change;
-Environmental services;
-Leisure and recreation;
-Prevention of Homelessness; and
-Social Housing.

3. 50% of respondents felt there were areas where the Council should spend
less money and suggested the following areas for reduced expenditure:
-Administration;
-Outsourcing of services;
-Services/projects that do not deliver value for money for residents;
-Services with the largest carbon footprint; and
-Planning.

4. 24% of respondents provided other comments about the Council’s 2022/23
budget proposal, including:
-Lobby Government for more funding;
-Protect low income families; and
-Investment should be across the district

Topics covered by this consultation:

Council Business, Budget & Finance

Consultation Start Date: 09/12/2021

Consultation End Date: 20/01/2022

Results expected by: 10/02/2022

Please note: these dates are subject to change.

Areas covered by this consultation:

Wealden District (All)

Target audience for this consultation:

Wealden Residents

Frequency of this consultation: Annually

Methods of consultation used:

Online Survey (All Public)

What Happens Next?

Cabinet will consider the results of the consultation at its meeting on 9 February 2022 before making a budget recommendation to Full Council on 23 February 2022.