Budget cuts sail through Wiltshire Council meeting

Wiltshire Council’s budget for 2015-2016 was approved by Tuesday’s (February 24) meeting of the full council.

One hundred areas of savings, efficiencies and cuts have been made to services to meet the £15million cut in central government funding which, with the increased demand for some services, meant the Council had to find £30million in savings.

Council leader Jane Scott said: ““I am pleased that despite these challenges, we will not be increasing council tax for the fifth year in a row – this will benefit every household in Wiltshire.”

The 100 areas where savings will be made include charging for garden waste collections; finding office efficiencies in support services; encouraging efficiencies in voluntary sector services; changing street lighting times and reviewing the Household Recycling Centres’ opening times.

A presentation of the Council’s budget priorities can be found here.


The meeting also gave its delayed approval to the merger of Wiltshire and Dorset fire services.