Council Tax

Update on the Council’s budget & Council Tax

The Cabinet and Council are expected to approve the draft Budget, at the beginning of March after the Magazine went to print. The budget is set to include significant investment in local services. This includes: X Over £1 million more in funding for waste and recycling services X Extra investment in grass cutting and maintenance to keep the

Borough’s parks and open spaces looking their best X More money for our childrens’ services, which are rated

‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted X New investment in adult social care services X More resources to support those in need of housing X Funding to help people facing domestic abuse and violence

Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the Council has monitored and managed the financial impacts carefully with an independent report into the Council’s finances praising the Council. It concluded that: “The Council has been proactive in managing the unprecedented financial pressures that arose” and that “The political leadership of the Council has demonstrated that it understands the financial challenges facing the organisation and their commitment to managing the mediumterm financial resilience of the organisation.” Work continues to manage the financial risks that the Council faces over the medium-term, invest in and improve services and keep the Council’s budgets in balance. We also continue to lobby the Government for changes to reallocate funding based on updated statistics and data that reflect the changing needs of our Borough so we can get a better deal. To support investment in local services, the draft budget for 2022/23 includes a Council Tax increase of 1.99% and a 1% increase for the adult social care precept. This will enable over £3 million of new investment to be made in local services. This increase is lower than the rate of inflation and lower than the near 9% expected rise in the Mayor of London’s share of the Council Tax. To support residents on low incomes, the Council Tax Reduction Scheme gives 14,000 households - which is one in seven of all households in Bexley - discounts on their Council Tax bills of between 10% and 100%. Around 73,000 households in the Borough will also benefit from the £150 rebate provided by the Government to Opening of the new domestic abuse one those living in homes in Council stop shop in Central library. Tax Bands A to D.

Bexley’s Apprenticeship Event 2022

‘Back on-site, not online’ – the London Borough of Bexley’s Apprenticeship Event for 2022 will take place at the Civic Offices on Tuesday 10 May. Training providers and employers are already confirming they’ll be there with opportunities starting this year, so we hope to be able to put on another big event for Bexley’s young people considering an apprenticeship as their next step. More information will be released before the Easter holidays, so keep an eye on our social media accounts and www.bexley.gov.uk/ apprenticeshipevent Information will also be made available through Bexley secondary schools and further education providers.

If you’re an apprentice employer or training provider and interested in attending to promote your opportunities, please email skills@bexley. gov.uk

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