Plans to continue significant investment in Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s frontline services for the next year have been given the green light by councillors.

At a meeting last night (Thursday 27 February), councillors approved the budget which sets out how the council will fund its services from April 2025, following a public consultation which took place in November and December 2024.

Key pledges as part of the approved budget include continuing the significant extra funding for frontline services introduced in April 2024 following feedback from residents.

New initiatives to be funded over the coming year also include a new extreme sports event in July to boost activities on offer for young people in the borough and re-opening the public toilets for people visiting War Memorial Park. As part of the council’s drive to improve Basingstoke’s Top of the Town and boost the night-time economy, free overnight parking will be in place between 7pm and 8am in council-owned short stay car parks in the area from April.

To support work to tackle the borough’s climate and ecological emergencies, funding has been agreed for the roll-out of food waste collections, continuing the work of the council’s Green Team, which supports residents to become more sustainable, and providing more electric vehicle chargers.

Leading by example, plans also include exploring energy-efficiency improvements for council-owned buildings and, to boost the borough’s biodiversity, additional funding will support the council’s work to maintain the borough’s trees.

To help improve the lives of residents living in Basingstoke and Deane, funding has been agreed to continue work to provide housing advice for residents looking for a home. Additional money has also been agreed to provide more one-to-one support for residents struggling with their finances by helping them to address issues such as debt. Working with partners, this will form part of a wider action plan that is being developed to tackle poverty in the borough.

An amendment to the budget approved by councillors on the night will see a proposed increase for sport pitches fees capped at three per cent, as part of the council’s commitment to sports facilities in the borough.

To fund the council’s services for the next year, an average 10p per week council tax increase will bring the borough’s part of the council tax to £146.42 a year for the average household. This is still likely to make Basingstoke and Deane one of the lowest districts in Hampshire, and most of the country, for its part of council tax.

Alongside this, the charges for additional services the council provides will increase by an average of three per cent, with some charges increasing by more than this to bring fees in line with the cost to deliver these services and the fees charged by other councils and local providers.

At the meeting councillors also agreed the capital budget for the next year which will see over £27 million allocated for projects such as improvements to sports, leisure and parks and play areas, action to become a net zero borough by 2030 and driving forward the council’s major projects to revitalise Basingstoke town centre and Basingstoke Leisure Park and deliver much-needed affordable homes at Manydown.

Co-Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Property Cllr Gavin James said: “We would like to thank everyone who shared their views during our public consultation with residents telling us how important our services are to them, such as waste and recycling collections, street cleaning and maintaining our parks and open spaces.

“I am pleased that councillors have supported our plans to continue our significant additional investment in these services for the next year, building on the real difference this money is already making in our communities. Other new initiatives include a new extreme sports event in July for young people in the borough, reopening toilets in one of our flagship parks and free overnight car parking in our short stay car parks to boost our work at the Top of the Town.

“As well as investment in our high-quality services, our capital budget for the next year includes over £27 million of funding for improvements to facilities that are important to our residents, such as parks and play areas, and delivering on our key priorities. This includes revitalising Basingstoke town centre, replacing our much-loved Aquadrome with a new modern water and leisure complex and delivering new affordable homes at Manydown.”

More information on the council’s budget for the next year can be found at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/budget2025