How would you prioritise Wiltshire Council's spending? Help shape our budget in 2025/26

Local authority budgets are under greater scrutiny and pressure than ever before due to increasing demand for services, particularly the high demand for adults' services, children's social care and SEND. Demand has been further impacted by the ongoing pressures caused by the continued cost-of-living crisis, fluctuating inflation and continued higher and unpredictable energy prices.

The interactive sessions will be an opportunity for people to talk to the Leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Richard Clewer and Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Nick Botterill, and give their views on how the council should prioritise its spending.

The interactive drop-in sessions are taking place on:

Monday 7 October, 3.30pm - 6.30pm at Salisbury Library, Market Walk, Salisbury, Wiltshire. SP1 1BL

Thursday 10 October, 3.30pm - 6.30pm at Chippenham Library, Timber Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire. SN15 3EJ

Monday 14 October, 3.30pm - 6.30pm at Trowbridge Library, County Hall, Bythesea Road Trowbridge BA14 8JN

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: Local authorities are legally obliged to set a balanced budget. Our prudent and preventative approach over the last few years has put Wiltshire Council in a strong position to deliver high quality services for Wiltshire's residents, businesses, and communities, in line with its Business Plan priorities. However, we are not immune to the challenging time it is for council finances with growing demand for services and increasing costs.

We want to hear people's views on how they think we should prioritise spending in 2025/26, so that this can inform how we invest in key services and programmes to ensure we continue to deliver services that meet the need of our residents, businesses and communities.

The council receives nearly 84% of its core funding from local taxes, business rates and council tax. In 2024/25 the council's budget is around £490m, more than half of which is spent on adult and children's social care services.

The most significant spending in 2024/25 is on:

• Adult services - £179.4m
• Families and children - £70.8m
• Environment - £49.6m
• Highways and transport - £43m
• Education and skills - £38.9m

People read more about the council's budget and spending at Budgets and spending - Wiltshire Council and Council tax spending - Wiltshire Counci