Investment into town centres, delivering leisure centre improvements, supporting communities and tackling homelessness is planned as South Ribble Borough Council set their 2025/26 budget.
Following a public consultation, a vast range of investment is confirmed in the budget approved by Councillors last night (5 March) alongside continuation of the vital day-to-day services. It includes:
- £3.6 million to deliver leisure centre refurbishments to enhance local facilities for residents.
- £173,000 to refresh the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy to prevent homelessness.
- £15.3 million to complete and launch the Jubilee Gardens extra care scheme, with 75 supported apartments and facilities for residents.
- £173,000 to progress the delivery of the Central Lancashire Local Plan to ensure sustainable development and investment opportunities that meet local needs now and in the future.
- £1.27 million to create the infrastructure for weekly food waste collections
- £2 million to improve the areas of Middleforth, and Kingsfold and Liverpool Road, in line with the Penwortham Masterplan.
- £38 million to deliver phase two of the Leyland Town Deal
- £30,000 to promote South Ribble as a visitor destination, including the promotion of Worden Hall, South Ribble’s attractions, tourism businesses and events
Councillor Jacky Alty, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council said, “I am so pleased that we can bring forward such an ambitious yet balanced budget, formed by what we know our communities need.
“The investment work we have planned will ensure that our communities can continue to thrive all while we continue to deliver our day-to-day services.
“As a council we consistently go above and beyond what are the statutory duties for a local authority. We do this because we strive to increase life enhancing opportunities.
“The choices we make, outside of necessary duties, arise from community conversations and engagement with active community members. I want to thank all those who responded to our consultation and regularly provide feedback about how we can shape our services.”
To deliver the plans, the council will increase their portion of council tax of 2.99%, which is the equivalent of 13p more a week for a Band D property.
The opt-in Garden Waste Collection Service will also rise by £5 from £25 to £30, keeping it one of the lowest in the region.
Councillor Jacky Alty, continued, "We receive around 10% of a person’s total council tax bill and it is important that we consider our financial position when pulling together the budget.
“Unlike many other local authorities across the country, we are in a relatively strong financial position. This is due in part to our investment projects, revenue streams and our considered approach to spend. We have also continued to look at ways to become efficient, while responding to changing community demand.
"However, we are not immune to economic challenges, and we have faced increases in inflation over recent years that have driven up our costs, whilst also increasing demand for our services.
“Despite this, our portion of council tax still comes in at one of the lowest in Lancashire.”
Over the last 12 months the council has supported communities to live healthy and happy lives by delivering health and wellbeing programmes, supported people through the cost of living and developed a flagship Family Wellbeing centre in Lostock Hall.
Opportunities have been created through the council’s economic strategy which includes support to businesses, driving forward key town centre developments and supporting jobs and skills development to help people into work.
The drive towards Net Zero has also been supported with the council enhancing the environment and reducing its carbon footprint all while continuing to be an exemplary council, being innovative and efficient in their approach to get value for money.