You can now have your say on the council’s budget for the next three years.

The budget for 2020/21 and the outline for following two years is now open for consultation.

The consultation will last four weeks, closing on January 19.

READ MORE: Reading Borough Council in plans to purchase Reading police station

Reading Borough Council (RBC) will then consider feedback before putting the budget to a vote on February 25.

The consultation asks for opinions and suggestions on four key aspects of the budget:

  • Achieving a balanced budget
  • Increasing council tax
  • Capital investment
  • How proposals might adversely impact on people and how this could be diminished

What is in the draft budget?

1. Council tax 

Council tax could rise by 3.99 per cent next year, including 2 per cent to fund adult social care.

The council is proposing £11.4 million of savings to balance its budget through being more efficient and increasing fees and charges.

There are also big spending plans including investment in road repairs, swimming pools and energy saving measures.

Why council tax could go up

Councillor Jason Brock, leader of the council said: “It is never easy to raise council tax.

“We are in the situation we are in. We have to be prudent. I want people to know they are getting something back for the rise in council tax.

“In return we are getting this programme of investment. It is not just the road but also adult social care and investment in the environment.”

READ MORE: Reading Borough Council approves draft budget for consultation

An increase of 1.99 per cent had previously been approved for next year’s budget (2020/21) as part of the council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), updated in February.

The council is now proposing to double that increase as council’s have been allowed to up council tax by an additional 2 per cent ringfenced for social care services for adults.

1.99 per cent increases are planned for 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Council tax rose by 2.99 per cent this year, the maximum without calling a referendum.

How would the council tax increase affect you?

Forty per cent of homes in Reading are in Band C. People living in these properties will pay an extra £57.72 under the proposal.

Those living in the most valuable properties will see the biggest increase, with those in Band H paying an extra £108.22.

This is how much properties will pay extra under the plans:

  • Band A (10 per cent of total properties) – Extra £43.29
  • Band B (20 per cent) – Extra £50.50 per year
  • Band C (40 per cent) – Extra £57.72
  • Band D (15 per cent) – Extra £64.93
  • Band E (8 per cent) – Extra £79.36
  • Band F (4 per cent) – Extra £93.79
  • Band G (3 per cent) – Extra £108.22
  • Band H (Less than 1 per cent) – Extra £129.86

What support will those who have left care get?

The council is looking to support those who have left council care.

Eighteen-year-olds who have left care will not pay council tax, while 19-year-olds will get a 67 per cent discount and 20-year-old will get 33 per cent off.

RBC estimates this will cost around £100,000, with half paid for from the increase in council tax.

The other half would come from the budget of children’s services company Brighter Futures for Children.

2. Spending plans

The council is planning to invest £357 million in capital investment over the next three years.

Councillor Jason Brock said: “It has taken quite a few years of a lot of hard work. We have struggled in the face of huge cuts but we have risen to that challenge and find ourselves in a position of financial stability.

“We still have less money than we had back in 2010 but having that platform of stability allows us to make investments.”

Potential new spending projects include a £5 million investment in the town centre police station and £4.5 million investment in renewable energy.

READ MORE: Reading Borough Council plans huge £9m investment in road repairs

The spending proposals are part of the council’s capital programme. This pot of money cannot be used to fund day-to-day services or to balance the council’s revenue budget.

3. Balancing the budget

The council still must make £33.1 million of savings in the next three years to deliver a balanced budget despite being in a more stable position than previous years.

READ MORE: Shelter report reveals estimated 593 people homeless in Reading

This includes £11.4 million for 2020/21. £6.3 million is planned to come from efficiency measures and invest-to-save initiatives with the remaining £5.1 million extra income from increased fees and charges.

Around a third of the efficiency savings over the next three years are expected to come from children’s services, run by council-owned company Brighter Futures

You can have your say here.