How your money is spent 2024 to 2025

This position has inevitably impacted on our budget preparations for 2024 to 2025, with many of these pressures set to continue into next year. The draft revenue budget proposals published for consultation last December included almost £11 million for additional spending. In order to help offset this, £5.5 million of savings were identified and included in the budget consultation. Alongside this, our proposed capital spending plans were made public, including most notably an additional £5 million investment in highways and footpaths over the next 4 years.

Following the consultation, the final budget was agreed in February. This included changes from the draft proposals in response to consultation feedback. It also included additional spending on social care and services for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, funded from additional unexpected government grant.

Our final budget proposals include using £1.5 million of reserves to achieve a balanced position after raising council tax by 4.99%, the same increase as in almost all similar councils. Despite this, Bracknell Forest’s council tax level remains in the lowest 10% of unitary councils.

We recognise that any increase is unwelcome and for some households this may be unaffordable. For this reason, working age households in receipt of council tax support will once again see a £75 reduction in their tax bill in 2024 to 2025. Any households struggling to keep up with their payments should contact Revenue Services who will be able to provide advice and support.

Susan Halliwell, Chief Executive

Your council tax bill

Your council tax bill is made up of 4 charges:

1. The cost of the services provided by Bracknell Forest Council (including the levy made by the Environment Agency).
2. The cost of  services provided by your parish or town council.
3. The cost of services provided by the Police and Crime Commissioner of the Thames Valley (£269.28 for band D).
4. The cost of services provided by the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (£81.31 for band D).

This table shows the amount that will be charged for an average band D home, depending on the parish area in the coming year. These figures do not include any council tax relief you may be entitled to.

Environment agency

The Council Tax (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 2011

The Environment Agency, as a levying body for its Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Functions under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and the Environment Agency (Levies) (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, provides the following information:

The Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood and coastal erosion risk management for 5,200 kilometres of main river and along tidal and sea defences in the area of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. Money is spent on:

• the construction of new flood defence schemes
• the maintenance of the river system and existing flood defences
• the operation of a flood warning system
• management of the risk of coastal erosion

The majority of funding for flood defence comes directly from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). However, under the new Partnership Funding rule not all schemes will attract full central funding.

To provide local funding for local priorities and contributions for partnership funding the committee recommends through the Environment Agency a local levy.

Changes in the gross budgeted expenditure between years reflect the programme of works for both capital and revenue. The total local levy raised has increased by 1.99% from £12.53 million in 2023 to 2024 to £12.78 million for 2024 to 2025.

For residents, the directorate's services are focused on delivering the right support for all residents of Bracknell Forest, when they need it, and empowering them to get the best out of life.

It aims to provide the best possible opportunities for our young people by providing effective support and challenge to our schools and to keep everyone, whatever their age, connected to their community, family and friends and able to access the right opportunities they need to thrive.

Another key outcome is to keep more families safely together and, by providing the right support at the right time, enable people to live as independently and well as possible, for as long as possible.

Delivery directorate

Has responsibility for major contracts covering areas such as waste management and the provision of leisure facilities with our partner Everyone Active. Also provides services directly to the public including customer and electoral services, libraries and the cemetery and crematorium. Provides legal, property management and ICT support services.

Central directorates

Responsible for providing strategic financial, organisational development, transformation and HR leadership to the council and support and advice to other directorates. Leads on the place shaping of the borough dealing with both day-to-day and long-term planning, open space provision, highways maintenance, transport planning and the ongoing regeneration of Bracknell town centre. Aims to create a borough where the economy can thrive and sustainable growth is positively planned for. Responsible for Public Health. 

Some of the major projects in our programme include:

Breakdown of spending

Contingencies

When managing such a large budget we need to make sure we have enough money to cover any unexpected emergencies.

General balances

The amount of money we are using this year from balances which we already have “in the bank” to support the cost of our services.

Parish and town councils

Your parish council is the first tier of local government. It is closest to the people it represents. The elected members in each of Bracknell Forest’s 6 parishes work closely with community groups and Bracknell Forest Council to provide services relevant to each area. They vary in size and population but each tailors its services and spending to its community. Some are predominantly urban, and others more rural.

Their work often includes local environmental work in parks and play areas, provision of sports pitches and open spaces, play equipment and allotments. Some run community halls and services for young people and all give grants to help local groups. All of them have staff who can help you with information on local groups and parish and borough-wide services.

Contact your parish council to learn more, by telephone or by visiting its website. It is there to serve you and your local needs. Your input helps it provide the right services for your parish.

Parish precepts

This is the amount of money your local parish or town council requires to run services in that area. Each individual parish precept for an average band D home is outlined in the table below.

Gross expenditure for each parish with a precept above £100,000