Lib Dems avoid disaster as budget squeaks through

By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison 

The first Liberal Democrat budget since Wiltshire Council was created in 2009 squeaked through in a crunch vote. 

With all 98 Wiltshire councillors in attendance at the budget meeting on Tuesday 24th February, the budget passed by 50 votes to 48. 

Had the budget not passed, a vote of no confidence in the administration – possibly leading to a vote for a new leader – was certain. 

Councillor Gavin Grant, cabinet member for finance, introduced the budget as the “first non-Conservative budget this millennium.” 

The budget set out how millions of pounds – a revenue budget of £567 million, an additional £40million over last year’s budget and a capital budget of £260 million – would be spent. 

He said his aim was to “derive the maximum value for money” for Wiltshire council tax payers. 

“This has been the most challenging budget in this council’s history,” he said, because of “three very significant challenges” – the spiralling costs of adult social care in a county with an ageing population, the growing number of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and the renewal of six waste contracts. 

He said that for every £100 collected through council tax and business rates, £40 was spent on adult social care. 

The budget included an extra £20million for adult social care and £6million for children with special educational needs, along with £12million to renew the waste contracts. 

“Virtually all of the £40million uplift is absorbed in those three areas,” he said. 

Conscious that a vote on the Reform-backed “alternative budget” from the Conservatives was looming, Cllr Grant said the administration had incorporated several “good ideas” into its budget. They included: 

• A pause on introducing a second homes and empty homes council tax premium 

• A reallocation of £10million put aside for the Melksham bypass until the government confirmed its intention to start work 

• A delay in cutting grants to parish councils to tackle emergencies like flooding 

• And an introduction of a ‘lane rental’ scheme where utilities companies must pay to close the county’s busiest roads 

Responding, Conservative group leader Richard Clewer accused the administration of “distressing residents of Royal Wootton Bassett and Calne” over the mooted closure of two household recycling centres, and “distressing volunteers from (community transport programme) the Link Scheme” by suggesting their funding would be cut. 

He pushed for a vote on his group’s “alternative budget,” which failed by 48 in favour to 50 against. 

Following the meeting, Cllr Clewer condemned “months of chaos from the Lib Dem administration with vital services cut then reinstated, budget amendments placed and withdrawn, and a confused approach to budget setting with the last-minute inclusion of several Conservative budget ideas. 

“The havoc of the Lib Dem administration is harming Wiltshire Council and the residents of Wiltshire,” he said. “I am very sorry that the Lib Dems, supported by Independent and Labour councillors, voted to cut services for residents and businesses. 

“This budget simply doesn’t give Wiltshire the stable financial footing it needs. 

“It relies on significant new borrowing and short-sighted increases in car parking charges, which will impact the local economy and our high streets. It will leave residents paying the price for years to come.” 

Ed Rimmer, leader of the Reform group, said, “Today, we voted against the administration’s budget because we do not believe it strikes the right balance for Wiltshire residents. 

“The proposal raised council tax while reducing core services such as waste collection, introducing Sunday and extended-hours parking charges, and failing to properly balance the council’s finances. 

“We believe residents should not be asked to pay more while receiving less in return. 

“Our position was not about party politics. It was about protecting core services, ensuring financial sustainability, and standing up for value for money.” 

Ian Thorn, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “It was important for Wiltshire that the council agreed a budget yesterday. 

“I believe the budget is deliverable and will ensure we are financially sustainable and continue to deliver vital services over the next year.” 

Pictured: Wiltshire Council budget debate