BASILDON'S ruling Conservative administration has laid out its proposals for a balanced budget for the council for the next financial year - and has also confimred plans to raise council home rents by seven per cent.

An average property in the borough will pay 16p more a week towards Basildon Council if the budget is approved by full council.

That equates to increasing the council's portion of overall tax bills by 2.99%.

 The ruling group says: "This is well below the current level of inflation and only as much as is necessary to continue delivering the services that matter most to local people. Basildon Council's proportion of the Council Tax bill is 14%, as outlined below: 

• ​71% - Essex County Council   ​
• 14% - Basildon Borough Council   ​
• 11% - Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner   ​
• 4% - Essex Police, Fire and Crime Authority   ​

The agreed budget also includes a proposal to raise rent for council tenants by 7%, bringing the estimated average rent for 2023/24 to £99 per week.

In addition to these items, other changes in resource allocation have been agreed. The police service has received significant increases in funding and police numbers locally and regionally have risen as a result. In addition, the council is investing in a community wardens service. The Cabinet has, therefore, agreed that it is no longer necessary to fund additional police officers as part of the council's budget. ​

The Cabinet has also agreed to discontinue funding towards the provision of all night street lighting around the borough.

A statement says: "Councillors will continue to work closely with Essex County Council to ensure that they appropriately fund street lighting as far as possible."

Council leader Cllr Andrew Baggott,said: "We understand the pressure local people are feeling as we continue to tackle a number of financial challenges. The council is not immune to these challenges and we need to make some difficult decisions to best serve our whole community. I am pleased we are able to agree this robust budget for the year ahead – protecting the services that matter most." ​

Cllr Stuart Sullivan, cabinet member for resources and commercial, added: "These budget proposals, and continued effective management of our resources, provide a sound financial base which allows us to continue with and add to our ambitious programme of investment and improvement across the borough. ​

​"To maximise the resources available to us, we will continue to review services for efficiencies. We will cut costs where it is appropriate to do so and invest where we can to modernise the way we work for residents." ​

​The proposed budget will now be put before Full Council for final approval at its meeting on 23 February.