New vision to create a better future for Tamworth

Tamworth Borough Council has approved its 2022/23 budget, including spending on town centre regeneration, play area refurbishments, funding for environmental projects in all areas of Tamworth, jubilee floral displays, improvements to Tamworth Town Hall, energy efficiency upgrades, disabled facilities grants and more.

The budget, together with the new Council Tax level for the year, the medium term financial strategy and a new three-year corporate vision and priorities, were presented to a meeting of the Full Council on Tuesday 22 February.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Jeremy Oates, set out overall plans for general fund spending of £6.58m and housing revenue account spending of £16.6m in 2022/23.

The report also included a five-year general fund capital spending programme of £18.8m and a housing capital programme of £46.5m over five years. This includes £3.2m for insulation works to council houin 2022/23, part funded through a £1.1m grant from the Government 's Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

The new vision set by the council is: 'Tamworth - celebrating our heritage, creating a better future '

There will be five primary areas of focus; the environment, the economy, infrastructure, living in Tamworth and the town centre, with a number of goals identified in each priority area.

These include actions such as enforcement and education around litter and flytipping, developing infrastructure for acting on climate change, protecting and maintaining the green space offer, supporting businesses, improving tourism, further promoting the town 's historic and cultural assets, continuing to develop the street market and supporting events, and improving the night-time economy and infrastructure.

At the heart of the vision is a commitment to continue to prioritise and protect the most vulnerable members of the community.

The new vision and priorities will be available to view in full on the council 's website as part of the new Corporate Plan in the coming weeks.

Some specific spending headlines from the budget include:

• £1.85m from Tamworth Borough Council 's capital fund towards the town centre Future High Street Funds regeneration
• £15,000 per annum for a new 'environmental grants ' scheme, with each councillor to be allocated £500 per year for improvements in their wards
• Reinstated budget of £30,000 per annum for floral displays across the town (this was reduced to £15,000 during the pandemic)
• £10,000 for additional themed displays to mark the Queen 's Platinum Jubilee
• £105,000 to refurbish play areas across the borough
• Technological upgrades and improvements to extend the use of Tamworth Town Hall ( £87,000)
• Energy efficiency upgrades to commercial and industrial units ( £375,000) over five years
• £3.25m over five years for Disabled Facilities Grants
• £850,00 over five years for works to balancing ponds

The Budget will be supported by a Council Tax increase of £5 on the average Band D property, although for two thirds of Tamworth residents who live in properties below Band D, the rise will be less than £3.90 for the year.

Around 10p in every pound in Council Tax is retained by Tamworth Borough Council which, for the next financial year, will generate £4.4m towards the provision of services by Tamworth Borough Council. The majority of the Council Tax bill goes to Staffordshire County Council, plus payments to the police and fire authorities.

Cllr Oates said: “Once again we have a Budget that balances over three years and includes workstreams which are targeted at reducing the gap between the net cost of services and the council 's income from its own activities.

“The Government set out its stall several years ago that it believes local government should strive for self-sufficiency, and it is with this in mind that we are continuing to shape a council that is more commercially aware, to fund services for those who need them most.

“The report contains significant items and I will begin with the new vision, 'Tamworth - Celebrating our heritage, Creating a better future '

'Tamworth, honouring our heritage and providing the building blocks for future generations, a safe home where you can live, learn and succeed. Providing for the needs of residents and businesses with the tools required to succeed '

“This vision is built on the understanding that; we will target resources upon those in most need and those most vulnerable, we will commission services that will both intervene/prevent future demand and reduce levels of vulnerability, we will, therefore, meet the Council 's stated intention to ensure that the vulnerable are a priority and we will now use this vision to direct our efforts and decision making going forward. ”