BUDGET STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE, SAYS BRIGG COUNCILLOR

Brigg households will soon be receiving their latest council tax demands from North Lincolnshire Council, showing how much they will need to pay for services the unitary authority provides, plus contributions to the police force and fire brigade and a small amount for Brigg Town Council.
The bill will cover the financial year starting in early April 2018.
Brigg's Coun Rob Waltham is the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council and has commented on the budget set by the authority.

FROM SARAH HOWE,  SENIOR MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICER, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

A budget that ‘strikes a balance between investing in North Lincolnshire and providing value-for-money’ has been approved by councillors (2 March 2018).
Leader Cllr Rob Waltham announced the plans at the council’s annual budget-setting meeting.
Council tax will rise by 1.99 per cent from next month, plus 3 per cent to fund adult social care. The increase equates to an additional £44.95 on the 2018-19 bill for households in Band A properties, which make up the majority of homes in North Lincolnshire.
It is one per cent less than the amount the bills could have increased by.
Cllr Waltham said: "Many residents accept we will all be older one day and funding older people's care is an important priority for the council. Council Tax in North Lincolnshire was frozen for five years and now we want to keep the council tax as low as possible and this is what we have delivered."
Investment in North Lincolnshire announced by Cllr Waltham  includes:

• £12.5-million investment in local schools
• £7.86-million in grants for disabled facilities
• £5.5-million investment over four years in improving community accessed council buildings.
• £5.2-million for LED street-lighting improvements
• £1.3-million to create a new leisure and wellbeing centre in Barton
• £100,000 for environmental improvements in Scunthorpe
• Extra protection for open space in Scunthorpe and Bottesford
• £2.2-million over the next two years to be invested in technology to support independence for older and disabled residents
• £350,000 investment to improve the visitor facilities at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre
• £1.8-million in disabled and older people's home assistance and support
• A new study to create a relief road for Barton

Cllr Waltham said the measures would be funded by an additional £1-million from the Government for care for older and disabled people, £11-million in business rates income and £1.5-million in four-year savings from the planned move of council employees from the Civic Centre to Scunthorpe town centre, plus the increase in council tax.
A £2.7 million four-year Government grant to support the building of new affordable homes will also provide extra funding.
Cllr Waltham said: “This proposed budget strikes a sensible balance between investing to make North Lincolnshire a better place and ensuring, as a council, we continue to provide the best possible, value-for-money whilst keeping council tax as low as possible.
“We are continuing to invest in our support for our older and disabled residents, whilst making sure there is extra money for schools and roads, pavements and new energy efficient street lighting.
“Investment is also planned to improve the library offer and to enhance our leisure facilities.
“We are ambitious for North Lincolnshire and for our residents. We are also attracting millions of pounds from the Government to support the improvement of our area.
“We are working hard to attract businesses to North Lincolnshire to capitalise on our first class location, availability of land and terrific connectivity so we can ensure better paid jobs are on offer for our residents.”

Coun Rob Waltham (Brigg & Wolds Ward), the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council.