NEWBURY TOWN COUNCIL SETS ITS BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR

Newbury Town Council has approved its budget for next year, including the new grounds maintenance contract, as well as maintaining all of the other services and facilities which the Council provides.

Highlights from the budget include plans to upgrade playground facilities at The Nightingales, as well as improvements to open spaces at Wash Common and Hutton Close.

Cllr Martin Colston, Leader of the Council, presented the budget, saying, “The Council framed this budget with the cost of living crisis in mind. I am really pleased that we were able to achieve this with a rise in Council Tax for Newbury households which is well below the current rate of inflation. The rise in Council Tax precept for households in Newbury will be only 6.4%, compared to the Retail Price Index increase of 13% over the past year.

He continued, “This Council has continued its strategic aims to improve the town of Newbury, to support our communities and to take actions to address the Climate emergency. The Council budget for 2023-24 is almost £2.3M, which includes our plans for the new community café in Victoria Park. The café has been delayed due to Brexit, the pandemic, inflation and the current strains on the construction sector. It should be noted that we aim to fund the café from contributions received from developers and a Public Works loan, with no addition to the Council Tax precept.”

The full details of the budget are available on the Council’s website https://www.newbury.gov.uk/the-council/key-documents/budget/ and further information will also be provided to households in Newbury with their Council Tax bills.

Contacts:

Cllr Martin Colston, Leader of the Council martin.colston@newbury.gov.uk 01635 36591

Hugh Peacocke, CEO, Newbury Town Council Hugh.Peacocke@newbury.gov.uk 01635 780202