Roger Blaney: Local economy remains buoyant

Newark and Sherwood District Council on Thursday formally approved its budget for the coming year.

Prudent financial management, along with a willingness to change the way we do things, has placed your council’s finances in a strong position.

As a result, we have been able to contain the increase in the district’s council tax to less than 1p a day for a Band D property.

Indeed, over the whole of the last ten years, our council tax has increased by less than 2.5% in total.

When we consider the future landscape, whether for local government, the wider public sector or the country as a whole, there are a good many uncertainties and challenges that lie ahead.

Our local economy, however, remains extremely buoyant.

Our town centres are vibrant and carpark charges remain unchanged.

We have seen major investments or commitments from employers new to the district, such as Wirtgen, with its £14m inward investment and Moy Park.

Established companies such as Knowhow and Vodafone continue to grow their operations and workforces.

Our £2m Business Investment For Growth scheme can provide loans to enable existing, start-up or early trading companies to grow.

Across the district, un-employment ­— as measured by the number of Job Seekers Allowance claimants ­— is just 1.3%.

Key to our continued growth and economic prosperity is good transport connectivity.

I will not pretend that the problems of the A46 will be solved over the next couple of years.

But last week the Government published its Midlands Connect transport strategy and improvements to the A46 around Newark were set out as a key priority. We will continue to press for these warm words to become reality.

Later this year, the council will move into its new offices at Castle House.

These will enable us to enhance or at least protect our wide range of services and customer support by taking £500,000 a year out of our operating costs.

Equally significantly, the offices are more conveniently-located and will provide a one-stop shop for our services and for those of key partners such as Newark and Sherwood Homes, Job Centre Plus and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Sporting chance

This next year will also see a start made on YMCA’s exciting £8.5m Community and Sports Village complementing and adjacent to our Newark Sports and Fitness Centre ­— do come along to the centre’s first birthday Fun Weekend on April 22 and 23.

Also adjacent to it, the £8m Extra Care housing development of 60 apartments for the elderly will be completed during the year, while the council will begin its uniquely ambitious and fully-funded five-year programme to build a further 335 council houses across the district.

Our Council Tax Support Scheme helps the most vulnerable, while discretionary hardship funding is in place for those who are particularly affected by the Government’s radical and long overdue welfare reform programme.

A green waste collection service is now in operation throughout the district and, in a joint project with Newark Town Council, we have launched a pilot scheme in the town centre to clear litter on a daily basis.

So, whether it is supporting business and stimulating the local economy, helping the elderly and less well-off, promoting health and fitness for all or looking after our environment, your council remains determined to provide the range and high standard of services you demand and expect.

Our budget for the coming year can and will deliver. We look forward to working with, and for you, over 2017 and beyond.

Roger Blaney is the leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council.