The impact of COVID-19 has led to enormous uncertainty and an unprecedented challenge for Kent County Council as it prepares its budget for the next financial year. Responding to the pandemic has required a huge increase in spending and has come at the same time as reductions in income from council tax, business rates and…
Kent County Council is facing its toughest financial challenge for many years – greater even than any it faced during 10 years of austerity. Coping with the demands of Covid-19 has required a huge increase in spending at the same time as reductions in its income from council tax and business rates KCC is now…
Kent County Council is inviting the county’s residents to give their opinions to help amend its budget to cope with the financial impact of the Coronavirus pandemic Despite extra funding from central government, KCC is facing a shortfall which is currently estimated at £40-50 million for this financial year. As soon as the pandemic was…
Kent County Council has today (Thursday) agreed its budget plans for 2020/21 which aim to prioritise the services that improve the quality of life for the people of Kent. The council will be spending over £1 billion on essential day to day services, an increase of £77 million (7.8%) over 2019/20. This is the largest…
Kent County Council today unveils its budget plans for 2020-21 which aim to prioritise the services that improve the quality of life for the people of Kent. The budget plans show that, for the first time in many years, the government has given the council an increase in its funding of £28.6 million and the…
Kent County Council today launches its annual budget consultation with the endeavour to continue to protect the complex services it provides, particularly those that support the most vulnerable in our communities, both young and old, whilst continuing to support economic growth to make Kent a great place to live, work and enjoy. The council’s proposals,…
Kent County Council is calling on the government to make changes to road maintenance budgets warning the current system could lead to a “rapid spiral of asset deterioration”. KCC is on course to secure its highways maintenance budget in the face of diminishing government funding by receiving a ‘band three’ in funding. The rating, from…
Kent County Council is approaching the start of another financial year facing an immense challenge in setting the council’s budget. In the coming financial year, KCC has a budget gap of £113 million out of the council’s net budget of approximately £1 billion. Savings of £53 million are needed as government funding reduces by £45…
The Leader of Kent County Council has warned that big decisions will be needed in almost every area of the council’s activities to deliver a further £64 million of savings in next year’s budget (2018/19) After six years of significant funding cuts from central government, Paul Carter has appealed to Ministers to ease the financial…
With the government’s Autumn Statement being made next week, KCC is reminding residents there is just over a week to go to have their say on KCC’s draft budget. The council launched a six-week consultation last month revealing it needed to find another £108 million to balance the books. It comes in response to rising…
Kent County Council has today (Thursday) agreed its budget for 2016/17. It was described by Kent County Council Leader Paul Carter at today’s meeting as “without a shadow of a doubt the most difficult it has ever had to face”. Mr Carter said: “I think we’ve put out an intelligent budget. Government grants to support local…
With a substantial cut in government funding and ever increasing demand for services, Kent County Council has proposed an increase in council tax in its draft budget. Growing demand for services, particularly in adult social care, will cost an extra £80 million. This, combined with reduced funding from government of £46 million, has left the…