Swansea Labour’s record-breaking budget is one that will improve the lives of thousands of people in the city and county.
Under a budget approved by Full Council tonight there will be investment in schools, social care, streets, parks and roads.
In a budget for the pandemic recovery there will be hundreds of millions of pounds of investment over the coming years in council homes, new schools, play areas and other essential community services like tackling littering and free bus services.
Hard-pressed families will see the cost of school meals frozen until at least 2025 and the council tax rise will be just 20p a week for those on a Band B council tax rating – significantly below inflation.
Rob Stewart, Council Leader, said: “It’s been a tough two years for everyone because of the pandemic. But the budget agreed is one for the recovery, a boost for our communities and helps build a better Swansea.”
An impressive plan of investment includes:
- An extra £13.6m for education overall, so schools will have more than £179m to spend on educating our young people
- £16m more for social care, taking overall spending to £144.7m for child and family services and caring for the vulnerable and elderly
- Economic Recovery Fund could be boosted to £45m
- £570,000 for new community cleaning teams for every area of Swansea plus £100,000 more for a new generation of ‘smart’ litter bins and replacement bins
- Larger PATCH road repair teams to carry out more improvements in all wards across the city.
- Biggest-ever events offer, including new attractions, to boost tourism and business
- £100,000 for public toilets
- £5m to upgrade every council-owned children’s play area in Swansea
- £1m for skate parks and youth support
- Popular free bus offer will continue on selected dates until at least Christmas
- Funding for a network of life-saving defibrillators across the city
- More support for veterans and the vital Men’s Sheds initiative
- No pitch fees for sports clubs
- Spending power of £1.8m a day on vital services.