The draft budget for 2020/21 is focused on "tackling the climate crisis and getting the basics right". It also reveals a proposed £6m in cuts and a 3.49% increase in Council Tax.
The proposals also include plans to plant 2,000 new trees, create new woodland, over £1m to improve the city centre, £4m extra money for homelessness, long-term investment in children's mental health, more CCTV, new funding to tackle anti-social behaviour and combat knife crime.
Additional proposals, including plans to introduce a new low cost public transport scheme for 16-21 year olds, are available to view on the Council's website.
In the draft, the Council have announced they will make £6m in cuts to the annual budget. As a result of this, the Council propose to increase Council Tax by 3.49%. This is below the 4% increase that the government wants councils to apply.
The Council will also make savings totalling £6m in efficiencies and pre-planned spending reductions.
A statement on MK Council's website says: "Much of where we spend the council budget is seen by a small proportion of local people. Around two thirds goes into care and support for vulnerable adults and children – complex, essential services delivered by professionals at the council and beyond.
"We do this kind of collaboration very well in Milton Keynes: for instance we were recently ranked no1 of all councils for how we help people in need of social care return home from hospital.
"Other activity is more visible, from new libraries that are much valued by communities, to a big push on fly-tipping where we’ve installed CCTV cameras in hotspots to catch offenders in the act. We’re planning to fund two schools-based police officers who will offer advice to students as well as helping to prevent incidents. We have an ambitious plan to make Milton Keynes carbon negative by 2050, and to be known as one of the greenest cities in the world."
Read the full draft budget proposal here: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/your-council-and-elections/mkbudget
The Council want to hear your views, especially on:
- Do you agree with limiting the Council Tax rise to 3.49%, below the 4% the government wants councils to apply?
- Do you agree or disagree with any of the investment proposals?
- Are there any services or priorities you believe are not covered by the proposals.
Residents are invited to give feedback on the proposals. To do so, please email: budget@milton-keynes.gov.uk by 4 February 2020. MK Council will receive the proposals on 26 Februray 2020.
