Public consultation to help shape next year’s Council budget

We invite residents, businesses and partners to give us their views before the consultation ends on 17 January 2022.

Proposed budget recommendations

Reigate & Banstead has a strong track record of responsible financial management. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been forced to fundamentally review its medium-term financial plan and reduce the level of spending. At its meeting on 18 November, the Executive approved the Council’s draft 2022/23 budget proposals for consultation, including:

• Revenue Budget savings and additional income proposals totalling £566,000, alongside the proposed total Revenue Budget growth of £567,000, meaning a net total budget growth of £1,000, 
• forecasting a total of £1.3 million ongoing income budget pressures in 2022/23, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,
• the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan Summary
• and Revenue Reserve balances at 1 April 2021 of £41.74 million.

The proposals aim to manage the budget proactively, increasing some budgets and reducing others, by cutting costs, pausing some planned expenditures and/or finding new sources of income.

Savings are proposed through the restructuring of some teams, pausing the Council’s small and medium grants scheme for this year, introducing e-billing and a reduction in the frequency of its printed resident magazine, Borough News.

Help inform and shape the future budget

We want to ensure that everyone can have their say.

Leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Cllr Mark Brunt explains: “We set a new budget each year, making the most of the resources available to provide our high-quality services, support the local economy and the most vulnerable in our communities. The pandemic has hit everyone hard, including the Council, and we have had to make some tough decisions about our proposed spending plans for next year.

“We welcome and value everyone’s comments as the Council develops its budget for 2022/23. I encourage residents, businesses and partners to give us their views during the consultation. Your responses will help inform the next important step, ahead of the final decision at the meeting of the Full Council in February 2022.

“We will also continue our work to maintain a strong financial position and secure the Council’s long-term financial stability.”

How to have your say

The consultation will run from Monday 22 November 2021 to 11.45pm on Monday 17 January 2022. You can view the relevant documents and supporting information on our Consultation website section.

You can comment using our online survey, in writing or by email to:

• Email: engagement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
• Write to: Freepost RBBC CONSULTATIONS (Using this exact freepost address means you don’t need to put a stamp on the envelope.)

There will also be paper copies available in our three community centres or on request. Please call us on 01737 276000 if you have any questions about the consultation or how to respond.