Bracknell: Tax cuts and mental health part of new spending plans

These are a handful of the six new schemes designed to support the borough and its residents that council bosses have produced for the year ahead.

Changes to Bracknell Forest Council’s budget means the authority has extra cash to splash on a number of projects.

Totalling £2.3 million, the spending plans are ‘one-off’ initiatives which have been devised following an unexpected funding boosts from government schemes.

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Here’s what the council is aiming to spend its extra money on.

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Reductions in council tax bills

The most vulnerable residents in the borough are set to get a £150 reduction in their council tax bills with this extra funding.

Costing £500,000 and funded by the government’s Local Council Tax Support pot, the discount will apply to households paying council tax on the lowest incomes.

Although Bracknell Forest Council has a council tax support scheme already in place, the authority’s original 2021/2022 budget did not have a £150 discount planned for the forthcoming financial year.

But this new cash enables the council to continue the discounts for the 12 months from April.

Extra welfare support for residents

It is not clear what this support entails, but the remaining funds the council received from the government’s Local Council Tax Support scheme will be used for this project.

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The one-off assistance will cost the authority £327,000 and will be used to benefit the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

Mental health services

A quarter of a million pounds is set to go towards supporting individuals experiencing mental health issues in the borough.

The council will work with voluntary and community partners to deliver this support.

This scheme will be funded by extra cash from the government’s ‘New Home Bonus’, which redirects funds to local authorities where more new homes have been built.

Support for towns and parishes

Also funded by the New Homes Bonus, the council is planning to use its extra cash to support local economies in Bracknell Forest.

Crowthorne High Street

Bracknell, Crowthorne and Sandhurst will benefit from £600,000 worth of investment which “recognises their importance for employment and general economic recovery.”

Creation of a new climate change fund

A ‘revolving invest-to-save’ fund to support the council’s efforts to tackle climate change and create carbon reduction initiatives is set to be created thanks to the authority’s extra cash.

Costing £150,000, few details are given about what the scheme will mean for the borough.

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Staff bonuses

As the News revealed last week, councillors are set to consider plans to offer almost all staff at Bracknell Forest Council a one per cent pay bonus.

This plan would cost the authority £500,000 and has been proposed as a way to help the council keep its hard-working employees.

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These plans are part of the council’s revised budget proposals, which are set to be voted on by the authority’s top team at a meeting next week.

Councillors from all parties will then vote on the spending plans later in the month should the executive approve them.

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The updated budget indicates the council faces a £2.3 million funding gap heading into the next financial year.

This gap is set to be filled through any one of a number of methods, including increasing council tax, redirecting funds from the council’s reserves, or identifying further savings.