CRAMLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET CONSULTATION 2023/2024

We are asking Cramlington residents for their views on the Town Council’s proposed budget for next year.

The Town Council is made up of 12 elected councillors and is responsible for a range of local community and environmental services including parks and playgrounds, allotments and flower beds. We strive to improve quality of life and community well-being in Cramlington and provide wide support to voluntary, community and charitable groups. Also, a key area of our work is to provide activities for young people, such as youth clubs. A further important role for the Town Council is to keep residents informed of issues that matter to them and to represent your views to agencies proposing changes that affect you.

The Council is also subject to the rising costs of goods and services but through the careful management of our finances, we are in a position to maintain essential services and deliver a number of important new projects in 2024.

To fund our activities the Town Council levies a “precept” which forms part of the wider council tax charge levied by the County Council. From April next year the Town Council is proposing that its precept should increase by 5% which is below the current rate of inflation. This means that for a Band D property, the precept will increase from £120 to £126, an extra £6 per year or 50p a month. But most properties in Cramlington fall within Bands A-C, so most households will pay less than this figure.

This proposed below inflation increase reflects the Town Council’s concern over the impact of the rising cost-of-living on many families.

In recent years we have been a focal point for supporting voluntary and community activities and financial support when it’s needed. And this year we won the best large town category in Northumbria in Bloom.

We also have a range of new schemes identified for next year which have been developed through consultation with residents or identified in our corporate plan. These projects are:

• An additional dog park
• Purchase and modification of an outreach vehicle to help combat youth anti-social behaviour
• Additional support for CVYP Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project to undertake outreach work and manage youth clubs
• Additional funding for grounds maintenance and environmental works
• Phase 1 of the Coronation Park project which will be home to a Dementia Garden, an orchard, Community allotment and informal play area.
• A subway art project undertaken by a professional artist and local young people

Do you have thoughts about what the town council’s priorities should be next year? Do you agree with our budget proposals? If so let us know.

If you wish to comment, please contact us.

You can do this via email at: admin@cramlingtontowncouncil.gov.uk