The Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, Councillor Duncan McGinty, presented the Conservative Group’s proposals. Cllr McGinty announced that after setting a two-year budget last year (2014/2015) that there would be no cuts in the services that the Council delivers.
The Leader announced the following:-
• A £1million ‘Sedgemoor Economic Growth Accelerator Fund’ – The fund will be designed to assist businesses of all sizes to come to Sedgemoor and/or grow in Sedgemoor by lending monies to bridge funding gaps that can prevent businesses expanding or relocating.
• £500,000 over two years to introduce an Apprentice Programme for SDC.
• Topping up government monies with an additional £340,000 to bring super-fast broadband to more of our rural district than was originally planned.
• £130,000 into the Sydenham Together programme of work will see key partners coming together to strengthen families and the community. It will work to reduce anti-social behaviour, improve health and opportunity and raise the confidence of local people to re-enter the employment market.
• £80,000 to undertake a number of small flood relief schemes across Sedgemoor, in addition to the Somerset Rivers Authority’s Flood Action Plan works, which make a difference where there is localised flooding caused by heavy rain or high tides. This will enable schemes to take place throughout Sedgemoor including those at Cheddar, North Petherton, Combwich and Wedmore.
Sedgemoor District Council is raising its proportion of the council tax by 5.3p per week on a band D property. This is an increase of £2.74 per year, equating to a rise of 1.9%. Therefore, Sedgemoor’s annual proportion of the council tax for a Band D property for the financial year 2015/2016 will be ££140.52.
The Conservative Group’s budget proposals were those that were accepted.
The Labour Group put forward three alternative proposals which were defeated.
No other parties put forward budget proposals.