Hampshire County Council Budget 2010/11 questions and answers

1. What is the County Council's budget in 2010/11?

2. What will be the increase in the County Council's portion of the council tax?

3. What will be the County Council's portion of the council tax for a Band D property?

4. There is increasing disquiet among some sections of the community, notably pensioners, that they cannot afford to pay an ever-increasing council tax. What is the County Council doing to help them?

5. Is the County Council looking at its own services and making efficiency savings?

6. Couldn't the County Council make further savings by employing fewer people?

7. What sort of council tax increase can we expect in future years?

8. Has the County Council consulted with the public over this rise, and what did they say?

1. What is the County Council's budget in 2010/11?

The County Council's budget in 2010/11 is £672 million. Of this, £147 million comes from Government grant, and the rest is made up from council tax. In addition to this budgeted expenditure which the County Council is able to prioritise for spending in line with its strategy and plans there is a further £1,109 million of spending funded by income, specific and area based grants. The income is retained for reinvestment in the service to which it relates and specific grants are distributed for spending on specific services as directed by the Government. Total gross expenditure for 2010/11 is £1,830 million.

2. What will be the increase in the County Council's portion of the council tax?

Council tax for County Council services will increase by 1.9 per cent, which is equivalent to last year's increase which was the lowest ever set by the County Council. This is also the lowest tax increase in nearly 40 years. Overall, council tax in Hampshire is expected to increase by around 2.0 per cent when all local authorities have levied their charges.

3. What will be the County Council's portion of the council tax for a Band D property?

Those living in a Band D property will pay £1,037.88 to the County Council in 2010/11, compared with £1,018.17 in 2009/10.

4. There is increasing disquiet among some sections of the community, notably pensioners, that they cannot afford to pay an ever-increasing council tax. What is the County Council doing to help them?

We're very much aware that those on low and fixed incomes - not just pensioners - are finding it very difficult to pay their council tax bills. We would urge those having difficulty paying their council tax to contact the County Council's Information Centres on 0800 028 0888 to see if they can claim financial assistance - many of those eligible are not doing so. Alternatively the Pension Credit Local Service in Hampshire can help people claim their benefits by making a home visit, and in the privacy of your own home take details to ensure you claim what’s yours. To make a claim through the home visits service call 01329 243778 and leave your contact details. The Pensions Service will then get back in touch with you to arrange a visit.

We will also continue to press Government to fund the County Council properly and recognise Hampshire’s public service needs in making decisions on grant distribution.

5. Is the County Council looking at its own services and making efficiency savings?

Yes. Over the last five years the County Council has achieved efficiency savings of £70 million towards the Government’s value for money target, in addition we expect a further £21million for 2009/10 and we are planning to achieve further efficiency improvements of £29 million in 2010/11. We take very seriously the need to use our budget prudently.

6. Couldn't the County Council make further savings by employing fewer people?

The County Council employs around 40,000 staff, many of which are part-time. The vast majority of these provide frontline services, such as teachers and social workers, directly delivering a range of important services to the community.

In December 2009 the Audit Commission gave the County Council its first Comprehensive Area Assessment result. We were awarded the top award – 4: Performs Excellently, alongside Kent and Leicestershire. We were one of only three county councils to receive the top award in the new tougher inspection.

7. What sort of council tax increase can we expect in future years?

The Government’s spending plans do not extend beyond 2010/11, so that future budget planning is less certain than in recent years. The County Council expects to receive a lower level of formula grant from the Government from 2011/12 onwards, as part of the measures required to bring down the level of public sector borrowing. The County Council is planning Corporate Efficiency savings of £15 million per annum in 2011/12 and 2012/13 in order to protect front line services and limit the increase in council tax to 1.9%, around the level of inflation.

8. Has the County Council consulted with the public over this rise, and what did they say?

We consulted with our Citizens Panel during the summer 2008 on our budget plans for 2009/10 and 2010/11. At that time we were anticipating a council tax increase of 3% in both 2009/10 and 2010/11. Nonetheless 54% of respondents supported either spending of £2.5 million or £5 million higher than planned on priority services, which would have increased the forecast council tax increase to 3.5% or 4%.

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