This morning, 30 January 2023, Rutland Council hosted a meeting to consult with the residents about the upcoming Annual Budget.

Starting at 10am, Rutland County Council hosted a Q&A style meeting for residents to share their thoughts and concerns about the Annual Budget 2023/24.

Opening the meeting, Rutland County Council Leader, Lucy Stephenson, addressed concerns raised on social media that this meeting had been scheduled at an inconvenient time for Rutland residents working 9-5 hours.

Cllr Stephenson explained: "This is a part of our usual finance meeting and has been in the public domain since the 4 of January 2023."

Cllr Stephenson added that the Council will be hosting an additional public meeting next Monday in the evening that will be live streamed for those who cannot attend. This meeting will address the loss of Catmose Sports Centre and how decisions made when forming the 2023/24 draft budget resulted in the upcoming closure of the centre.

Cllr Stephenson also asked the public to help Rutland County Council "set the agenda for this meeting," and provide an agenda of items to be addressed on Monday 6 February.

Read more here.

Cllr Stephenson said: "You will have seen on social media how hard it is setting budgets. It has been particularly hard this year because of obvious reasons. 

"We also have an added challenge, which are local elections in May. It would be really easy to set a budget that was completely with a mind on election success. We haven't done that because we don't think that's right. We need to take a long term measured approach to the financial sustainability of Rutland."

She then introduced Cllr Karen Payne, Finance Portfolio holder, and Mark Andrews, Chef Executive of Rutland County Council, who answered questions alongside Cllr Stephenson.

Cllr Karen Payne clarified a range of points covered in the Rutland County Council Press Release concerning the 2023/24 budget, including:

The allocation of £46.549 million to run local services over the next 12 months (up from £44.029million last year). This is the total yearly cost of everything from road maintenance and recycling to library services, fostering and adoption, bus travel, school transport and care for older people.

In addition to spending plans for the year ahead, the Council's draft budget includes proposals for a Council Tax rise of 2.99%, plus an Adult Social Care Precept of 2% which would be used specifically to fund adult social care services. If approved, the average increase in Council Tax for a Band D property in Rutland would be just under £8 per month, with an extra £33k of Council Tax Support made available to help anyone on a low income. 

Cllr Payne explained: "If we have an imbalance, we are legally required to close the gap. Reduce costs, make savings, take money from reserves, produce more income."

Priorities were listed as:

• Balancing the budget
• Achieving financial independence in the medium term
• Keeping Council Tax increases low
• Maintaining service provision

Cllr Payne added that balancing a budget while being in such a time of uncertainty with upcoming local elections as well as yearly budget changes, promoted uncertainty and impacts decision making.

She added: "It's like booking that once in a lifetime holiday while not knowing that you'll have a job in 6 months' time." 

A key point discussed was Central Government Funding which on average is £1,019 nationally, but in Rutland is only £504 per household.

Cllr Payne said that the Council are "lobbying for a better deal from central Government" but the Council, currently, will need to "impose maximum Council Tax increases as expected by the Government".

This means that the proposed 4.99% Council Tax Increase, the highest increase permitted, appears to be a certainty for Rutland residents once again.

One gentleman in attendance called for RCC to be more transparent and to communicate with the Rutland population so that they can support the Council with this lobbying and other issues which may impact the local community.

Of course, many residents in attendance were concerned with the provision of local leisure facilities following the announcement last week that Catmose Sports Centre would be closing. Read more about this here.

The frustration from local residents was not eased by the increase in Council Tax and £23 million Levelling Up Fund, which will bring a new technical medical hub and other improvements to the county - but not a leisure centre.

The Council members in attendance did confirm that they hope to put more funding into local transport, so that Rutland residents can access leisure facilities further afield.

Many in attendance did not see this as an adequate fix, with Oakham being Rutland's County Town.

On top of this, Chief Executive Mark Andrews, admitted that the transport system in rural areas is "broken", while Cllr Lucy Stephenson added that: "In terms of lifestyle, I don't have a magic wand." 

One local moth read a letter from her child, Colbey, who asked the Council to keep Catmose Sports Centre open to the public:

"When I heard the leisure centre is closing, it made me feel really sad. I go to the roller disco on a Friday night and trampolining on a Wednesday night. I love these things and seeing the friends I have made there, I sometimes go kickboxing too. Please can you find a way to keep it open?"

Meanwhile, residents who could not attend the meeting due to work commitments voiced their frustration on social media, one user commenting: "So whilst most people are at work paying the stupid amount of Council Tax, you are basically holding a conference for the retired people of Oakham to get their views only because, at the end of the day, that's who you listen to, not the working or younger generations."

Another resident added: "What a ridiculous time to hold a Q&A. Speaks volumes."

Another requested that the Council move the meeting, with no response on the Rutland County Council Facebook page: "Rutland County Council, please respond to all of these comments. Why are you holding a Q&A when all council tax payers are at work? Please come back with an alternative time that the residents of the county you purport to serve are able to attend."

Get in touch by emailing [email protected] and add your voice to this conversation.