In a tense and closely watched session, Wiltshire Council narrowly approved its annual budget by a margin of just two votes, 50 to 48. The decisive vote on Thursday, attended by all 98 councillors, averted an immediate constitutional crisis; a defeat would have triggered a vote of no confidence in the ruling Liberal Democrat administration, potentially leading to a leadership contest.
A “First” Budget Under Intense Pressure
Presenting the financial plan, Cllr Gavin Grant, the cabinet member for finance, characterised it as the “first non-Conservative budget this millennium” for the council. The document outlines the spending of a total £827 million – a revenue budget of £567 million (an increase of £40 million on the previous year) and a capital budget of £260 million – for the upcoming financial year.
Cllr Grant stated the primary aim was to “derive the maximum value for money” for council tax payers, while calling it “the most challenging budget in this council’s history.” He attributed this to “three very significant challenges”: the spiralling costs of adult social care in a county with a growing elderly population, the rising number of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the renewal of six major waste collection contracts.
He provided a stark illustration of the pressure, noting that for every £100 collected through council tax and business rates, £40 is now consumed by adult social care. Consequently, the budget allocated an extra £20 million for adult social care, £6 million for SEND services, and £12 million to cover the renewed waste contracts. “Virtually all of the £40 million uplift is absorbed in those three areas,” he confirmed.
Incorporating Opposition Ideas in a Pre-Emptive Move
Facing a parallel vote on a “alternative budget” proposed by the Conservative group, Cllr Grant revealed the administration had proactively integrated several of the opposition’s “good ideas” into its own plan. These incorporated measures included:
- A pause on introducing a second homes and empty homes council tax premium.
- A reallocation of £10 million, previously earmarked for the Melksham bypass, held back until the UK Government confirms its commitment to the project.
- A delay in planned cuts to grants for parish councils, funds used for local emergencies like flooding.
- The introduction of a ‘lane rental’ scheme, requiring utility companies to pay for occupying the county’s busiest roads during works.
Sharp Criticism from Opposition Groups
Despite the concessions, opposition was fierce. Conservative group leader Cllr Richard Clewer launched a broadside, accusing the administration of “distressing residents” in Royal Wootton Bassett and Calne over proposed closures of household recycling centres, and of “distressing volunteers” from community transport scheme The Link by suggesting its funding might be cut.
His group’s alternative budget was defeated by the same 50-48 margin. Following the meeting, Cllr Clewer condemned what he described as “months of chaos from the Lib Dem administration,” citing a pattern of “vital services cut then reinstated, budget amendments placed and withdrawn, and a confused approach to budget setting with the last-minute inclusion of several Conservative budget ideas.”
“The havoc of the Lib Dem administration is harming Wiltshire Council and the residents of Wiltshire,” he said. “This budget simply doesn’t give Wiltshire the stable financial footing it needs.”
Ed Rimmer, leader of the Reform group, also opposed the budget, stating his group believed it failed to “strike the right balance.” He argued it raised council tax while “reducing core services such as waste collection, introducing Sunday and extended-hours parking charges, and failing to properly balance the council’s finances.”
Leadership Defence: A “Deliverable” Path to Sustainability
Defending the administration’s work, Council Leader Cllr Ian Thorn (Liberal Democrat) framed the vote as a success for the county. “It was important for Wiltshire that the council agreed a budget yesterday,” he said. “I believe the budget is deliverable and will ensure we are financially sustainable and continue to deliver vital services over the next year.”
The budget’s narrow passage underscores the profound financial and political pressures facing local authorities nationwide, where rising demand for statutory services like adult social care and SEND support continues to outpace traditional funding streams. For Wiltshire, the next year will test whether this finely balanced budget can deliver stability amid those challenges.
Image Credit: www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk
