Kingston’s proposed budget protects support for most vulnerable and sets path to greener, fairer, safer borough

It sets out how the council will continue to provide essential support for the most vulnerable residents, while meeting the financial pressures from the national economic crisis, rising demand and ongoing insufficient government funding.

More than half of everything the council spends each year goes to providing residents with social care support, and these needs are rising all the time. This year the council will be spending £161.1m on vital services for residents, such as vulnerable adults, children and young people reliant on social care, and families affected by the cost of living crisis.

The proposals set out the council’s plans to continue to create a greener, fairer, safer borough, working with communities, voluntary groups and partners to find more effective ways to offer services. 

The council is proposing a new £500,000 Community Resilience Fund to support residents and community groups through the cost of living crisis which will complement the continued support from the Household Support fund. Work is underway on a new specialist autism school, due to open in September 2023, and there are further plans for two more schools. The council has also recently opened a new specialist dementia care home. 

Kingston is continuing to deliver against its climate action plan, working to remove single-use plastic from its buildings, plant more trees and encourage more people to use sustainable transport through initiatives such as increasing the number of school streets in the borough and installing more electric vehicle charging points.

Alongside this, the council is delivering a brand new accessible community leisure centre in Kingston for the borough.           

The role of Kingston Council is to deliver the services that make the borough a great place to live, work and visit, while also providing value for money. However, this has become increasingly challenging as the money it receives from central government has been cut dramatically. 

Despite the national economic pressures and spiralling demand for essential support, the government has reduced Kingston’s central grant from £66m in 2010 to almost nothing this year. While the council receives some specific grant funding, it has to rely primarily on what it receives from council tax and business rates. 

Kingston’s effective financial management in recent years and clear plans for the future mean the borough is in a stronger position than many to face the tough times ahead. The council needs to focus on how it spends the money it has, to ensure it can continue to improve the lives of the people who rely on its services most. 

This means a council tax increase of 2.99% is proposed, along with a 2% increase in the adult social care precept to help the borough meet the financial pressures of looking after the most vulnerable adults and children, as well as the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

Leader of Kingston Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Andreas Kirsch, said: 

“We are in a stronger position than many to face the financial challenges ahead because we have put the borough’s finances in order, taken the decisive action needed and started the work to build effective community resilience. This means we can continue to focus on the key services our residents rely upon and continue the important work to transform our borough environmentally, culturally and economically.

“We know this is a difficult time for everyone and help is available for those who are on a low income or claiming certain benefits through the council tax reduction scheme.”

The council’s draft budget for 2023/24 will be going to all the strategic committees before it is presented at Budget Council on 2 March. You can view the budget pack here.  For information on committee dates and to watch live visit the website.

• Find out more about the council tax reduction scheme
• Get information, advice and support with the rising cost of living