A COUNCIL leader’s promise to secure its financial position is a step closer.
Calderdale Council balanced its books in the last financial year, despite curbs on spending and increased costs in adult services.
A report, to be presented to cabinet on Monday, shows that over the past financial year Calderdale Council spent £184.719m providing services to residents.
It received £184.602m funding from the local government grant and taxpayers and funded the additional £117,000 from its own balances.
The council is now left with a reserve balance of £8.8m for a “rainy day”.
It says £0.182m of the reserve has been committed to supporting lower council tax levels in the period 2012/13 to 2014/15, leaving £3.699m to fund one-off initiatives or provide further support to the level of council tax.
Calderdale Council’s leader, Clr Tim Swift, pictured above, says the authority has taken a prudent approach towards balancing the books.
He said: “Councils across the country face difficult choices in how they spend their money and manage their budgets.
“But I’m delighted to say that Calderdale has been successful in making the most of the money available.
“This has been a really challenging year and we need to ensure that we make careful use of our resources to provide for our most vulnerable citizens.
“There are more looked-after children in Calderdale, more older people in residential and nursing care placements and increased costs in supporting people with learning disabilities.”
In the same period, the council spent £39.5m on capital items – roads, schools, children’s centres, improving the district’s housing and building and infrastructure projects, matching exactly the money available.
Cabinet will consider reports into the council’s revenue and capital expenditure and financing when it meets on Monday.
