Council tax increase approved in Walsall as demands grow for government support

The Conservative-led authority has made savings of £29.04 million in the budget for 2025/26, but forecasts a gap of £11.9 million over the next three years.

Two percent of the council tax increase is ringfenced for adult social care, one of the authority’s biggest financial burdens.

Other changes include a 20 percent increase in car parking changes, 20 percent increase in bulky waste collections, the phasing out of school crossing patrols and a review into Walsall, Bloxwich and Willenhall markets.

The relocation of the Walsall Leather Museum and the further reductions of grass cutting have both been removed from the budget following critism.

Councillor Mark Statham, deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance, said council’s final budget protects frontline staff, respects the consultation feedback and recognises growth and demand pressures.

He added that the council has been able to fund existing commitments for its promising capital budget.

Some of the capital projects include £60million for schools funding, £23 million for highways improvements, £8 million for waste initiatives, £31 million for high streets fund and £19 million for Willenhall Masterplan.

Leader of the independent group, councillor Aftab Nawaz, put forward an amendment to the budget at the meeting on Wednesday night (February 26).

Councillor Nawaz moved that burial fees should be reduced by 12.5 percent, and that out-of-hours burial fees to be reduced by 25 percent.

He said costs for burials were higher in Walsall than in neighbouring boroughs.

The total cost of the proposed amendment was £212,252 which Nawaz suggested could be paid for by the council’s reserves.

Councillor Nawaz said: “When someone passes away and you’re so distressed with it, the last thing you want to see is a big bill coming through your door.

“We have been approached by many constituents who are asking us to help in regards to reducing the costs of burials.”

When it came to the vote, 42 were against, 10 were for, and onewas  against.

Council leader councillor Garry Perry and Labour group leader councillor Matt Ward both voted against the amendment but agreed changes need to be made to the bereavement services.

Councillor Perry said the principle behind the amendment was valid, but said there had been ‘ample opportunity’ to make changes to the budget.

He pledged to work with councillor Nawaz to review the bereavement services provided by the council.

Councillor Ward added that dipping into the reserves for one year would be a temporary fix and called for more work to be done about the issue.

Responding to the budget approved by cabinet earlier this month, opposition leader Councillor Ward said there had been ‘clear mistakes’ during the process.

He said: “You can’t take £29 million out of services and claim it’s not going to affect residents.

“We already have one of the highest council tax rates in the country, at a time when residents are struggling.

“It’s the same story year-on-year. Higher tax, fewer services.”

He added that the decision to phase out school crossing patrols was ‘gambling with children’s lives’.

But portfolio holder councillor Kerry Murphy argued that the council has struggled to fill the posts for a long time.

Councillor Nawaz said: “Governments of all colours have refused or been reluctant to develop a national social care service, funded directly by central government, which in my opinion would be a game changer.

“In politics, as in life, courage is required but it seems there is a lack of political courage across the chamber in Westminster.”

Portfolio holder for social care, councillor Kier Pedley, said: “Care workers are at the coalface of delivering person-centred care and looking after loved ones.

“They go into that profession not because it’s well-paid, but because they care and it is about time the government showed that they care about care.”

Councillor Pete Smith said: “Here we go again, another triple whammy, maximum council tax rise, another £29 million worth of savings - you call them savings, I call them cuts - and another increase in charges.

“Every time we vote on a budget we put another nail in the coffin on the likes of councils like ours.“

Councillor Mike Bird, the former leader of the council until his resignation last June, said: “The budget is meaningful for both us and the people of Walsall.

“Of course the alternative budget, from Councillor Ward, is yet to be debated. Because it doesn’t bloody well exist.

“The difference between Conservative and lLabour is, as Mrs Thatcher said, the Labour government is very good at spending other people’s money. In actual fact, that’s demonstrated tonight.”

Leader Councillor Perry added: “If you honestly believe that any one of us want to vote for 4.99 percent council tax increase, we don’t.

“In all the 27 years I’ve been a councillor, we’ve had to make savings and we’ve had to increase taxation to close that gap.

“Not because we want to do it but because we do not get enough money from the central government, regardless of that political colour.”

When it came to vote on the budget, 34 were for, 18 against and 1 abstained.