GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council has revealed “ambitious proposals” for its 2025/26 budget.

Earlier today (November 27), the council released details of its proposed spending plans for 2025/26, with a planned spending rise of more than £32.7 million from 2024/25.

The council’s Cabinet is set to approve the proposed budget, and launch a public consultation at an early December meeting. The consultation is expected to run from December 5, 2024 until January 10, 2025.

Cllr Stephen Davies, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “As the new leader of the county council, I am really pleased to be able to reveal our proposed spending plans for the next financial year.

“We have tried hard to balance the financial strain we are all already feeling against the need to keep investing in services for the most vulnerable and to support a strong future for the county.

“We now want to hear what you think, whether you agree with our plans or if there are things you would change. It’s not to say that we will always be able to make the changes you suggest but I can assure you that your views will help to inform the decisions we take.”

The £649.6 million proposed budget includes investment into highways, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, adult services, infrastructure, and the environment.

An investment of £10 million is proposed to improve Gloucestershire roads, and a total of £12.8 million towards a 200-place special school.

However, the budget proposes raising £16.5 million to help fund services through a council tax increase of 2.99%. The council says that despite this planned increase, it expects to have one of the lowest council tax levels of any county council. Based on a band D property, residents would pay an additional £6.65 each month.