A 3.99% council tax increase was approved by Council so as to deliver a balanced and lawful budget for the coming year.
The budget proposals were accepted at a meeting of KCC’s Full Council, with 48 Members voting for, 26 against and 1 abstaining.
Almost half of all KCC spending goes on adult social care, with £787.5 million set aside to support vulnerable adults.
Children’s services make up the next biggest area of spend, with a budget of £423 million.
Other services – including highways, the environment, transport, and the work of the Chief Executive’s and Deputy Chief Executive’s departments – are funded through the wider directorate budgets published on the Council’s website.
The Council also has central budgets for things like debt costs and contingencies, which sit within the non‑attributable and corporately held budgets.
KCC's Leader addressing the County Council meeting. Linden Kemkaran called the final budget a 'sensible and low tax budget'
Deputy Leader Brian Collins formally proposed the budget. He said the plan “strikes a careful balance between protecting vital services and ensuring the Council continues to strengthen its financial position.”
Council Leader Linden Kemkaran, who seconded the budget, said it “provides stability for the year ahead while laying solid foundations for longer‑term resilience.”
A total of 12 amendments to the draft budget were put forward during the day by the Opposition Groups.
They included:
- Proposals to adjust spending within key frontline services, such as adult social care, children’s services, transport and highways
- Suggestions to change or reduce elements of the savings programme, reflecting concerns that the budget might otherwise lead to cuts to frontline services or require additional use of reserves
- Ideas to reprioritise elements of the capital programme, including changes to the timing or scope of schemes linked to growth, transport and environmental infrastructure
- Proposals relating to the use or redistribution of reserves
All amendments were debated but none were carried.
The Deputy Leader speaking at Full Council in County Hall's chamber. Brian Collins said the budget 'struck a careful balance between protecting vital services and ensuring the Council continues to strengthen its financial position'
Ms Kemkaran responded to the meeting with the following comments: “This is an historic day. I want to thank every member who has contributed to the debate. This is a sensible and low tax budget.”
Adding his final comments, Mr Collins said: “This budget has been carefully thought through. I fully support this budget and our level of council tax.”
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