South Gloucestershire Council’s new budget for 2023 to 2024 sets out investment plans of more than £838 million (gross) on services, over £132 million on capital and infrastructure projects, and allocates more than £267 million to schools, training and early learning in the district. These are tough financial times for the council, as they are for all residents and businesses. Global forces have driven an increase in costs, reduced in- come and growing demand for services but thanks to sound management of public money in recent years with a focus on delivering efficiencies and value for money, South Gloucestershire is better placed than most other councils to deal with these pressures. That’s why parking remains free in all council-owned car parks across the district and why an extra £1million is going into ensuring the road network is properly maintained. Investing in priority areas Investing in schools and educational attainment has been the council’s top prior- ity over the past few years, and the measures contained in the budget will enable this to continue in 2023 and beyond. The budget also commits to taking decisive action to tackle the climate crisis, invest in South Glos high streets to support local businesses, and to deliver vital infrastructure projects. Your council is investing in: • an extra £1 million for highways maintenance to improve some local roads earlier than planned. • continuing the new Street Enforcement Service for a further two years to tackle environmental crimes, such as littering and dog fouling, following a successful pilot • £1.5 million to deliver further progress on the council’s response to the climate emergency • supporting some rural bus services to continue while work is done across the region on transport options • allocating a further £500,000 to help local people with the cost-of- living crisis. It has also made money available to deliver a fast-tracked affordable housing delivery service. New council budget delivers quality services and invests in future Cllr Steve Reade with the Road Maintenance team Street Enforcement team and street cleaner View from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Toby Savage WELCOME to this special edition of The Voice in which we bring you news of our new budget, the upcoming local elections, and details of cost-of-living support. These are difficult financial times for the council and for our residents and businesses. I am very pleased that we have been able to produce a budget that continues to deliver the quality services that local people appreciate and rely upon. We will receive more than we anticipated from Government. This means that we can limit Council Tax rises and continue to deliver on our top priority, for all our young people to have the best possible start in life. It’s great to see our schools’ performances going from strength to strength. There will be local elections in South Gloucestershire this May for district along with parish and town councillors. If you are not already, you must be registered to vote. For the first time, you’ll also need to take an accepted form of photo identification to vote at a polling station. Find out more and how to get help on page 3. I’d like to thank The Voice, a wonderful local business, for a great partnership over the past few years. If you would like to get our latest news by email, please sign up for our weekly newsletter. You’ll find details on how to do this on page 3. South Gloucestershire Council  www.southglos.gov.ukAs well as delivering day-to-day services and support, your council will continue to invest in major infrastructure programmes and providing the best start in life to our young people. This includes: • More than £37 million towards new primary and secondary schools in Lyde Green • Over £14 million to improve Castle and Marlwood school buildings • £3 million to increase the number of new homes for children in care to help them stay close to their local communities • Nearly £3 million for a new community centre at Ladden Garden Village in Yate • £2.7 million for community facilities in the east of Emersons Green • More than £6.7 million to continue the re- generation of Kingswood High Street and surrounding area, including the Whitfield Tabernacle restoration The council’s direct funding to local schools will increase by £15.2 million (8.1 per cent), with funding for children with additional needs rising by £5.2 million (11.5 per cent). The minimum funding for each pupil will be at least £4,405 for each primary school pupil and £5,715 for each secondary school child. The continued investment in South Glos’s young people’s education, both at primary and secondary, is getting results. In December 2017, 72 per cent of students attended a good or outstanding school. By December last year (2022) this figure had risen to 90 per cent of students. Investment in major projects and in young people Balancing the budget Preserving some bus services Services maintained Public consultation took place on draft budget proposals, which helped refine the plans to ensure they reflect community priorities. Combined with work by council officers, the following services will continue: • the proposed increase in the garden waste subscription, from £30 to £55 will no longer happen • the council will support Christmas light displays next year for areas that will become parished this year • StreetCare Operations & Support Team which carry out road and grounds maintenance will not be reduced • Members’ Awarded Funding and Area Wide Grants, which provide support to many local community groups and activities, will not be cut • the Carers’ Grant will be maintained next year while work continues on a cross-party basis to develop an improved package of support for carers • planned CCTV upgrades in Chipping Sodbury will be brought forward to next year • funding for the Taxi Marshal service will be maintained in response to local concerns about community safety. All local authorities in the country are facing financial challenges and the council will implement changes to services to reduce costs by more than £24 million. This will in part be met by increasing income through fees and charges for services that are eligible. The council is also preserving some bus services using council reserves, much of which can only be spent on certain activities. These services include the 84/85 and 622 routes on an interim basis while work across the region continues on transport options Cllrs Toby Savage, Erica Williams and Ben Burton with members of South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Learning & Skills team. Improving education in South Gloucestershire Number of schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted December 2022December 2017 30% 90% Where your money goes   Caringforandsupporting olderpeople  Lookingafterourmost vulnerablelocalchildren  Improvingeveryone’shealth andwellbeing  Collecting,recyclingand disposingofrubbish  Educationandskills(ontopof governmentfunding)  Runninglibrariesandbuilding safercommunities  Maintainingroads,parksand theenvironment  Towardsmorethan500other servicesandcouncilcosts How every £100 of council tax is broken down to pay towards the services we provide. £4.30 £2.50 £6.30 £17.70 £45.00 £17.30 £0.30 £6.60 www.southglos.gov.uk 2Make sure you vote Local elections will be held in South Gloucestershire on Thursday 4 May this year, for all 61 district councillors for 28 district wards, that make up South Gloucestershire Council, as well as 492 councillors for 50 town and parish councils. This includes deciding on the representatives for the newly created parish councils for Charlton Hayes, Stoke Park and Cheswick, and Staple Hill and Mangotsfield, along with the new town council for Kingswood. Make sure you vote to have your say in how your local area is run. Registering to vote To vote in the May local elections, you will need to make sure you have registered to vote by the 17 April deadline. You can register to vote on the GOV.UK website or contact the council by emailing electoral.services@southglos.gov.uk, calling 01454 863030 or visiting one of the council’s One Stop Shops where you can get a copy of the form to register or help from the customer service team.  Find out more on the council’s website southglos.gov.uk/vote You will need to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station. This is a new government requirement which will affect the South Glos local elections in May. Lots of photo IDs are acceptable, including some passports, driving licences, blue badges, and some bus passes. Check the full list of acceptable photo ID on our website. If you haven’t got one of these, or you no longer look like the photo on your ID, or the name on your photo ID is different to your name on the electoral register, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You will need to do this by the 25 April deadline. You can apply for the certificate using the government portal. Alternatively, the council can help you apply in person at its Badminton Road offices where someone can take your photograph and submit your application online for you. Call 01454 863030 to make an appointment which will be during normal office hours. Find out more about Voter ID on the council’s elections and voting webpages southglos.gov.uk/vote. Keep up to date Get the latest council and community news direct to your inbox every week. Sign up today at  southglos.gov.uk/keep-in-touch If you would prefer to receive a paper copy, you can request this on:  01454 868009 Local elections in South Glos Did you know you now need photo ID to vote? Postal votes If you cannot get to the polling station on 4 May or if it is more convenient, you can apply to vote by post. Anyone can apply for a postal vote, but you need to apply before 18 April. You won’t have to provide voter ID unless you have lost your postal vote and need to be issued with a new one. You will need to complete an application form on the Electoral Commission page. Postal votes can be sent to your home address or to any other address where you’ll be staying on the day of the election, including abroad.   We can’t guarantee timings of post sent abroad so you may wish to register to vote by proxy so someone else can vote on your behalf. Find out more about postal and proxy votes at southglos. gov.uk/vote. No ID? You can apply for free voter ID Find out more at or call 0800 328 0280 www.southglos.gov.uk3Go paperless and receive your council tax bills by email Sign up to council tax e-billing today for greater flexibility, convenience and less paper:  southglos.gov.uk/MyCouncilTax £ PAWAY NO Why not stand as a councillor in South Gloucestershire? It’s varied, highly fulfilling and a great way to make a real difference, whether by supporting individual residents with issues or helping your local community by driving new ideas. You could represent local people’s views on a whole range of things from planning applications through to local services. People from all backgrounds and experiences who can reflect their communities are needed. You do not have to be a member of a political party to stand for election - you can also be an independent councillor. Councillors receive training so you will receive plenty of support. You will be paid an allowance and you can work flexibly. There are a number of eligibility criteria that need to be met by anyone wishing to stand as a candidate for South Gloucestershire Council or one of the area’s parish and town councils. Anyone wishing to stand for election must submit a nomination by 4pm on 4 April. Details and guidance on standing for election and nomination papers can be found on the Electoral Commission website. For more information on standing for election call 01454 863030, email electoral.services@ southglos.gov.uk or write to Electoral Registration, PO Box 1953, Badminton Road, Bristol, BS37 0DB. Could you be a councillor? NOTE: ALL CONTENT CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING ON 17 FEBRUARY 2023 Many people are worried about the rising cost of living and prices, in particular energy bills. If you are struggling to pay your bills, you may be able to get help from your council. It is allocating a further £500,000 to help people with the cost-of-living crisis. The council’s support includes grants to help with energy, other household bills and home insulation. It can help if you are having difficulties paying council tax. And your child may be able to get free school meals if you are on certain benefits. If you would like to talk to the council and check what financial support may be available for you, call its freephone helpline 0800 953 7778 (open 8.45am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.30pm Friday). Alternatively, you can book an appointment at one of the One Stop Shops by emailing OSSAppointments@southglos.gov.uk. There is also lots of information on the council’s help with the cost-of-living webpage southglos.gov.uk/CostofLiving. Difficulties paying bills? Your council can help www.southglos.gov.uk 4Next >

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