£5k increase in Spalding town budget, with 80% going towards wages

It is expected that the Spalding Special Expenses Budget will increase by more than £5,000 for the 2024/25 financial year – with 80% of that rise going towards wages.

However, savings of £1,300 are expected from the Christmas decorations this year.

The Special Expenses Budget covers council-run assets in the town such as the cemetery, allotments, Ayscoughfee Hall, the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, Monkshouse Lane Playing Field and festive decorations.

Spalding Town Forum discussed the draft budget, put together by South Holland District Council, at last Tuesday’s meeting (January 30).

The chamber was told that the £5,300 increase equates to a council tax Band D charge of £25.83, a £1.26 increase per annum per property.

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This rise is the maximum amount permissable by the forum.

“It doesn’t particularly change too much, there’s not a great deal that can change,” forum chairman Coun Rob Gibson said.

However, Coun Gibson did point out that there were reserves available should the forum need, such as when the forum dipped into the pot to host a Coronation event last year.

Coun Gibson added that if more money were to become available he would like to concentrate on the area’s ‘underfunded’ play parks.

Estimated pay increases for council workers will add more than £4,150 to this year’s budget.

The draft budget stated: “The employee related costs for the whole Spalding Special Account increase by £4,000 and takes account of incremental pay progression and forecast national pay awards.

“This category also includes agency staff costs.”

However, further funds will go towards new furniture and equipment at the cemetery (£700), materials and consumables at the allotments (2,500), a utilities increase at Ayscoughfee Hall (£1,000), increased licence costs at the Sir Halley ground (£200).

Due to utility bills not expected to be as high as the festive period last year, tt is hoped to make savings of £1,356 in the Christmas decorations budget.

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