South Ribble Borough Council to continue investment for businesses and residents as part of the approved 2024/25 budget

Investment into community support, town centre development, climate change initiatives, new affordable housing and developing skills and job opportunities is on the agenda for South Ribble Borough Council this year as their 2024/25 budget is approved after a public consultation.

In what is a challenging horizon for local authorities due to increasing costs and diminishing funding from Government, the council has delivered a balanced budget which allows for vital day to day services and innovative projects to continue. 

To achieve this the council is increasing in their portion of council tax by 2.99%, which is the equivalent of 13p more a week for a Band D property.   

Across the year the increase paid to South Ribble Borough Council for a Band D property would be just £6.67 which will allow the council to continue to provide excellent services.

Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council said, "It's important we consider the financial position of the council when pulling together the budget.

"We have faced large increases in inflation that have driven up our costs, and increasing demand for our services, but unlike many other local authorities across the country, we are in a strong financial position due to our investment projects, revenue streams and our considered approach to spend.

"We were able to freeze council tax for the last three years while keep our services running and without building any council debt. We have also continued to look at ways to become efficient, while responding to changing community demand.   

"I am so pleased we have been able to deliver a balanced budget for this year. My thanks go to all those who responded to our consultation for your feedback - your views are so important for us to understand what our communities need."  

The range of investment to be delivered in the new budget year alongside the continuation of the vital day-to-day services are:  

• £57,000 to implement a wellbeing service for residents which will provide support with nutrition, healthy weight management, and food budgeting. 
• £300,000 for the South Ribble Family Wellbeing centre which will see services for key groups, including older people, families, and vulnerable young people.
• The continued delivery of Jubilee Gardens, an extra care facility providing supported independent living, as part of the Council's £20.5 million investment to deliver the state-of-the-art facility. 
• £275,000 to make improvements to Tardy Gate Play Area and Skate Park, enhancing the facilities to help reduce Anti-Social Behaviour and to provide facilities for younger residents. 
• Continued delivery of the multi-million investment for the Town Deal for Leyland Town Centre and surrounding areas.  
• £170,000 for the development and implementation of a People and Skills Programme to ensure there is a range of employment and skills provision available in the borough. 

Councillor Foster continued, "We have a very busy year ahead of us and big ambitions to continue to do all we can to make sure South Ribble can be a place where communities thrive.  

"Looking back over the last 12 months alongside delivering our excellent services, we have been able to drive forward innovative investment projects such as the new affordable homes in Bamber Bridge, the refurbishment of dozens of play areas across the borough and initiatives to protect the local environment. 

"We were also able to begin work on the flagship extra care facility for the borough - Jubilee Gardens - and continue work on the multi-million-pound Leyland Town Deal. 

"We supported all groups of people in the borough by introducing a social prescribing service to address health inequalities and purchased space to set up a Family Support Centre. 

"This year we will continue to drive forward our key projects and initiatives which will really make a difference."  

See full budget and responses to the consultation