South Norfolk Council has agreed a robust budget for the coming year

South Norfolk Council Leader, Daniel Elmer said:

Our Council has always been a pro-growth council, investing in generating homes and jobs for local people, and drawing a dividend for the taxpayer in the process.

Due to prudent spending and income from investment, this year we are projecting a £1million surplus. This will enable us to transfer £250,000 to a planning reserve to challenge the blight of national energy projects that are threatening our district, create provision for economic growth initiatives, and potentially fund other one-off projects in the coming year.

But our biggest investments will be in our local communities. Our Community Action Fund (CAF) has frequently been oversubscribed, and so this year I am pleased to announce that we will be increasing the fund tenfold, from £50,000 to £500,000, providing real investment at the most local level. “I can also announce that in consultation with the other group leader, it has been decided that this will not be a stand-alone investment, but will be accompanied by a new £500,000 Community Facilities Grant (CFG)

The CAF will focus on providing new facilities for residents and communities, while the CFG will focus on renovating our existing well-loved facilities, making them fit for the future.

And we will go further still, doubling our members’ ward grant to £2,000 for the coming year, and allowing a carry-over for unspent grants from this one. We will also trial a new £150,000 In-bloom Fund to bring plant life directly into the heart of our town and villages. Together, this will represent one of the largest and broadest programmes of community investment South Norfolk has even seen.

On top of this, I am pleased to say we will be funding a £2.7million project at Ketts Park in our largest town, Wymondham. This investment will leverage over £1million in external funding and enhance a space that will provide opportunities for walking, exercise and recreation.

And it isn’t just Wymondham that will benefit, we will put £2.25million into a new fund for projects in other parts of the district. These include projects for a new community space in Poringland, work to Pyes Mill and the public realm in Loddon, a new country park in Cringleford, and investment in Costessey too.

All of this new investment is additional to our existing and ambitious capital programme, including our investment into our new leisure facility in Diss, and the expansion of Framingham Earl, our investment in Wymondham’s public realm, the progressing infrastructure at Hethel, and of course the new Doctors Surgery in Hethersett.

Our Council does not make false promises. We have always been clear about our plans for Council Tax and believe in clear and honest pricing. So, as in previous years will we be proposing a £5 rise on a Band D property, an increase that is less than the current rate of inflation and the average.

All South Norfolk members were involved in setting the budget, that will see Council Tax rise by £5 a year to £180. That is a rise of less that 10pence a week. The Council meeting is available to be viewed on the Council’s Youtube channel.