The Leader of Derbyshire County Council Anne Western has said she is confident the authority will be able to balance the books for the year ahead of plans to raise council tax.

By 2021-22 up to ‎£80 million must be cut from the council’s overall budget, by which time it will be spending a third less on providing services than it would need to maintain them at the level they were at be Government cuts began in 2010.

At a full council meeting this week councillors voted to set their annual budget at ‎£487.6 million and generate an additional ‎£11 million from council tax. This means residents in Derbyshire will be asked to pay an extra 3.99%.

The council tax increase includes an extra 2% specifically to help adult care services.

Councillor Western warned that the extra 2% would only partially protect the service, which is facing cuts of over £12 million.

Councillor Western said, “We’re doing everything we can to maintain our services, especially where they are protecting and support older and vulnerable people and children who need our care and I’m confident we can balance the books this year.”

The Labour councillor added, “We budget carefully and where we can we have been using some reserves to manage budgets and ensure some vital services can continue.”

Councillor Western spoke further about the adult social care tax increase, “We could have taken the step to increase the adult social care precept by 3% for the next two years but we have chosen not to do that.”

“Keeping it down to 2% over three years actually raises more money which keeps council tax bills down and is better for our services in the longer term.”

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