'Blackhole Busting’ Budget Approved by South Gloucestershire Council

The Lib Dem/Labour partnership which runs South Gloucestershire Council was pleased tonight to pass a budget that is balanced for the next 2 years. 

Their budget prioritises supporting South Gloucestershire’s most vulnerable residents by avoiding cuts to vital services on which they rely. It also includes strategic investments in the knowledge that sometimes a little can go a long way.  There are investments that provide support for young people who need help getting their lives back on track; for older people who want to live independently; and for South Gloucestershire’s veterans’ community.  

Responding to the unsuccessful conservative amendment to the budget, which partly sought to make numerous staff redundant in order to install unworkable acoustic cameras on roads, the partnership criticised the group for a severe lack of understanding about the existing work that the council had been doing. 

The administration highlighted that with regard to school buses South Gloucestershire Council have been working closely with WECA and are confident the 918 service will continue as stated at the Cabinet meeting in February. With Winterbourne Academy school the council has committed to continuing its support.  

Speaking on the amendment Councillor Maggie Tyrell  

“Both these items are gesture politics at its worst; trying to put forward amendments to solve problems we have already solved – something which has been achieved without needing extra budget provision. With respect to the statement about potholes - In December 2024 DfT announced additional funding which will result in £2.486 million to South Gloucestershire Council for pothole management in 2025/26. This significantly outstrips the suggested contribution from the Conservatives, which had they bothered to engage with us on this, we could have told them. The Conservatives said they want a pot hole busting budget, well, our budget is a black hole busting budget.” 

The administration highlighted that against a difficult financial background, it is becoming increasingly difficult for council to both balance its books and provide the levels of services needed.  

Cllr Maggie Tyrrell said: “We undertook a significant public consultation around the budget and the administration will continue to listen to people in the community about the issues that matter to them. There are no easy wins when it comes to making savings but the partnership is clear that this budget represents the brightest future possible for South Gloucestershire.” 

Cllr Ian Boulton said “This is a budget that aligns with our council plan goals; it’s sensible, well thought out and gives us the best chance of rising to the challenges of the years ahead.”

“We’ve managed to balance the budget for the next two years whilst also making investments such as support for survivors of domestic abuse, recruiting an occupational therapist to help people live independently in their own homes. We’ve also managed to ensure that the much-loved Kingswood attraction Grimsbury Farm will remain open, despite what people may have heard on social media.”

“We know too well the financial blackhole the last government left and the difficult financial situation the country finds itself in. This budget proves that you can be both fiscally responsible and still provide a high level of services for residents.”