Top councillors at Wiltshire Council have given their seal of approval to next year's budget.

The 2023-24 budget was approved by the authority's Conservative cabinet on January 31.

The budget includes increases in council tax along with cuts to some services and will now go before full council on February 21 where councillors will vote to approve or reject it.

The council’s proposed budget for 2023/24 stands at £465m.

In the budget, council tax will rise 4.99 per cent - consisting of a 2.99 per cent increase for general spending and a 2 per cent levy ringfenced for adult social care.

If agreed at Full Council, this will mean an increase of £1.57 per week of the Wiltshire Council element of the council tax for households in the average Band D property.

The council’s last reported budget gap for 2023/24 to 2025/26 in November stood at around £45m, but following confirmation of the Government’s financial settlement, this was brought down to around £33m.

This hole was then plugged, meaning the council did not need to use reserves to fund service delivery in the next three years.

The council is also able to release £13m of reserves which will be partially spent on housing provision.

The plans do also involve cuts in some areas.

Elderly friendship lunch clubs and groups for those with learning disabilities, will no longer be given grants.

The council is currently forecasting a net overspend for the year of £5m, the equivalent to 1.25 per cent of the overall net budget.

However, cabinet has agreed that this overspend will be met from the inflation reserves that were set aside to cover the anticipated cost of inflation during 2022/23.

The overall capital budget, used to improve and maintain the county’s infrastructure, is around £191m.

Some of the projects that form part of the council’s capital programme include the redevelopment of Melksham House, the Salisbury and Trowbridge Future High Streets projects, highways maintenance, and the Silverwood School construction for learners with SEND.

Leader of Wiltshire Council Richard Clewer said: “I really welcome the constructive and transparent discussions we’ve had since our budget proposals were published.

"Setting a budget involving an increase in council tax is never easy and it is really important that we explain to residents what we are asking for and more importantly why.  

“Now that my Cabinet has formally approved the budget we now look ahead to Full Council for a full debate and discussion as we seek to get it formally approved.”