Bath and North East Somerset Council launches budget consultation

Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) has opened a consultation on budget plans, aiming to identify £10.3m in savings.

Facing ‘challenging choices’, the council is considering options for the final budget for 2024-25.

In addition to potential council tax increases, the authority is reviewing funding for community support contracts, including prevention services. The consideration of parking charge hikes is also on the table to generate additional income.

The council is considering various measures to generate extra income, including potential increases in parking charges, expanding emission-based parking fees to more locations, and exploring revenue from heritage services like the Roman Baths.

The council has said that £2.9m, equivalent to 80% of the current budget, would still be allocated for these services.

The consultation is set to conclude at 5 pm on January 15, with the final decision on the budget being made during a meeting on February 20th.