COUNCIL chiefs have unveiled a £10.7million budget and approved a rise in the city’s share of the Council Tax budget for the year ahead.
City residents face an increase of around 1p a day on their tax bills while a band D property will see an rise of £5 per year as part after the new bill was agreed at a meeting last Tuesday (February 18).
Investments to be made under the 2020/21 budget includes £100,000 to support projects to ensure Worcester is an environmentally sustainable city while £2.85million will go towards sports development, including new football and hockey venues.
Councillors have also backed a £310,000 cash injection towards the £4.5million revamp of The Arches – Worcester, £100,000 to further improvements to the city’s car parks amd £695,000 for providing at-home facilities for people living with disabilities
Cash will also be put towards the additional promotion of Worcester as a tourist destination while £109,000 has been set aside to improve play areas across the city, including new fencing around the popular Splashpad in Gheluvelt Park.
Coun Marc Bayliss, leader of the City Council, said: “This is a budget that focuses on supporting our city’s economy and driving environmental sustainability. It will see more investment in attracting tourism, improving our car parks and many other measures that are good for Worcester’s residents and for Worcester’s businesses.”
Deputy leader Coun Adrian Gregson, said: “Our focus in this year’s budget is on making Worcester an even better place to live, do business in and visit.
“It supports the redevelopment of The Arches – Worcester, helping people with disabilities to continue to live in their homes, further improvements to the city’s sporting offer and much more.”
Visit www.worcester.gov.uk/cityplan for more.
