Council approves it’s 2024/25 budget and agrees Council Tax

South Derbyshire District Council has finalised its budget for 2024/2025, agreeing to raise council tax to deliver improved services for residents.

During Full Council on Wednesday, 28 February, it was decided that the annual charge for a Band D property will increase by £5.22 for the year to £179.86. This represents a 2.99% rise from last year.  This means the average council tax in South Derbyshire, considering the charges from Derbyshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service is now £2,099.60.

Despite the increase, South Derbyshire’s Band D Council Tax remains the lowest in Derbyshire. 

As part of the 2024/25 budget, the Council plans to take forward new initiatives and projects, investing £9.8 million, which includes:

- £600,000 to undertake works to create an events space in Swadlincote, which will compliment a further £1.1 million of investment from the government’s Levelling Up 3 Fund.

- £120,000 for cemetery refurbishment as part of a £300,000 3-year programme to ensure safe access for all

- £100,000 for parks and green spaces improvements

- £280,000 play area refurbishment, to overhaul many of the district’s play areas.

The budget has also included investment in services to manage cost pressures and ensure services have the right resources in place to continue to deliver locally.

Councillor Robert Pearson, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “Keeping council tax as low as possible, especially in the current economic climate when many residents are facing increased household bills, is extremely important to us.

“I am pleased that our Band D Council Tax continues to remain the lowest in Derbyshire and that the budget for 2024/25 will once again contain no cuts to services. The opposite is true: this is a budget that invests in resources to deliver for our residents. 

“These investments are vital - they will help enable Swadlincote’s town centre to thrive and to ensure residents can access and enjoy safe areas to conduct day-to-day activities.

“They will also reinvigorate current operations to allow the Council to bring in additional income and reduce future expenditure gaps.”

The Leader was keen to thank fellow councillors from all parties, council officers, partners, and residents for their input in the budget approval process. He also highlighted contributions to parish councils will remain at the 2023/24 levels for next year, demonstrating the council’s commitment to collaboration - which is a contrast to the situation with many other councils where grants have been removed. 

Councillor Pearson added: “The budget builds on the experiences of this year – not only in accurately predicting funding and income but also in investing in services so that we have the right resources to deliver improved services and enable delivery of our new Council Plan.”

It was agreed the Council will continue to support households on low incomes with the continuation of the support scheme which sees many residents pay little or no council tax.

Council also agreed that Council Housing rents would increase by 7.7% in line with the governments social rent policy.

1 March 2024