Budget backed and agreed

The City Council met from 4pm on Wednesday 2 March at City Hall.

The budget is in line with the continuing City Plan for a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland.

Backing was given for new investments of £134m with boosts for housing, community and culture as part of the longer-term capital budget.

This increases the council's capital investment programme to more than half a billion pounds (£627m) over the next four years, including developing the business case for an £80m city centre arena.

For funding day-to-day spending such as waste and recycling or care services, it was agreed that the Council Tax increase would be 2.99 per cent. This is in line with Government directions and an adult social care precept to help elderly and vulnerable residents.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller said: "We have worked very hard to ensure this is a positive budget, which allows us to continue with our ambitious social and economic regeneration plans for the city of Sunderland whilst ensuring we continue to protect and support those residents most in need.

"It continues to be an unprecedented time in our history, as we recover from the most difficult period in living memory and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We have remained steadfast in our commitment to maintain as our top priority, the welfare and wellbeing of our most vulnerable residents and to deliver the highest quality support and services they need whilst at the same time dealing with the financial and operational challenges presented by the pandemic."

Demand for adult social care continues to grow and the one per cent social care precept is expected to raise around £1m. Last year the adult social care budget was £165m and it is the biggest part of the council's day-to-day spending. 

The majority of Sunderland households will be paying less than £1 a week extra next year towards city services and it is again anticipated that Sunderland's Council Tax will remain the lowest in the North East region.

Sunderland's Council Tax currently raises around £16 for every £100 in the budget.

The new investments include:

• £24m spend on the ongoing regeneration of the Sunniside district
• £4.5m of updates and improvements to city parks
• £2.6m of further investment for the South Hylton day centre project
• £200,000 for Arts Centre Washington
• £250,000 of improvements to the Raich Carter Centre
• £500,000 earmarked for Houghton and Washington libraries.

The council's total planned expenditure on services for 2022/2023 is £764.9m and at the end of the four hour meeting the budget was agreed by 33 votes to 28.