A county council budget for the coming financial year is 'squeezed, squeezed, squeezed' said the cabinet member as his colleagues approved the spending for the year ahead. 

There were references to 'spilling blood' and 'raised voices' during Rutland County Council's budget setting meeting for 2025/26 last night (Thursday, February 27) in the council offices at Catmose House. 

Like many, the authority is having to make savings while demand for services is rising, and at the meeting many lamented the poor settlement from central government, which was a drop of £1.5 million of funding last year. The authority raises 81 per cent of its overall annual budget from local taxpayers – the highest percentage of any local authority in the country. 

Cabinet member for finance Andrew Johnson (Lib Dem) praised the work of the officers to set a balanced budget for the year ahead, and said it was 'regrettable but necessary' that a 4.99 per cent tax increase for the county council's services was being suggested. 

He said: "Without this increase in council tax our funding will be going backwards. We do not want to place an extra burden on our council taxpayers by the imposition of a further rise, but we have no alternative if we are to meet the demands placed on us for the services we are required to deliver." 

He said every directorate across the council was 'under pressure to reduce spending' and the costs of care were rising rapidly. 

The majority share of the spend for the coming financial year – 55 per cent of the budget – will go on services for adults and children's services. 

However, he said that the capital budget for the year ahead is 'as exciting as the revenue budget is challenging'. The authority, which is facing amalgamation with other councils before the end of the decade, is planning £23.4m of capital investment projects. This will include £3.1m on climate emergency projects. 

Councillors from across the different political parties welcomed the efforts of the officers to make the budget sums balance, but leader of the independent group Rosemary Powell voiced concerns about a 'lack of transparency' in certain areas, such as fees. Whereas in past years, the fees have been signed off at the budget meeting, this year a policy for fees was put before the authority, with delegation to a senior council officer for final approval. 

Leader of the Conservative group Lucy Stephenson echoed Cllr Powell's concerns and said the authority needed to be upfront and there 'should be no surprises' as 'there were for Ryhall'. The village found out last month that rather than the library building have improvements as planned, that officers were recommending it should be closed. A decision will be made in April. 

At the meeting there were a couple of references to heated discussions between cabinet members over the past few weeks as they have met to plan the budget and cabinet member for environment Cllr Christine Wise (Lib Dem) said the issue of raising car park charges in a blanket fashion was 'one where I nearly spilled blood over'. She said her view was that charge increases should be differentiated and that there would not be any increases before September. 

All councillors present voted to approve the budget, apart from Conservative's Cllrs Clifton, Stephenson and Heckels. 

A rise of 4.99 per cent was agreed to be levied, taking the bill for a band d taxpayer to £2,218.95, a rise of £105.40 for the year.