COUNCIL tax could be increased to the maximum as Slough Borough Council (SBC) eyes multiple opportunities to address its financial “woes” caused by Covid-19.

Residents could see their council tax bill raised by two per cent next year with an increase of the adult social care precept by three per cent, totalling five per cent.

This is the maximum permitted without going to a referendum.

According to the medium-term financial strategy 2021/22 – 2023/24, some of the proposed savings that could be added into the final budget in February include reducing agency staff spend, closing Chalvey Household Waste and Recycling Centre on Wednesdays and Thursdays, a “change of offer” from multiple libraries, stopping green waste for three months, and more.

These savings and efficiencies could amount to over £9 million for the next financial year.

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Like most local authorities, SBC is seeing more people either not paying their council tax or going on the council tax support scheme, which covers 80 per cent of their bill, due to mass unemployment.

With the coronavirus causing some businesses to cease trade, SBC has also seen less income from business rates.

The council is also “anticipating” significant growth in demand for adult social care and children’s services arising from the pandemic.

The council is currently facing a gap of over £8.6 million in 2021/22, with £5.4 million of that being a one-off cost of a business rates refund to a business owed since 2010.

Neil Wilcox, director of finance and resources at SBC, said it was not possible to deliver around £4 million worth of savings in year due to staff focusing on the immediate response to the pandemic.

He said they have “a bit of time” to close this gap, but it is getting “trickier” to do so.

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These proposed savings are not definitive – but could be formulised into the final budget, which will be presented at February’s full council meeting for approval.

Financial officers from the council warned this budget gap could rise to nearly £20 million by 2023/24.

The leader of the council, councillor James Swindlehurst (Labour: Cippenham Green), said: “Our primary purpose between now and late January/early February is to deal with our spending gap for next year, which is to close that £3.2 million off and make sure that our day-to-day income and expenditure are back in alignment.”

He added: “Our woes at the moment are about to try to close down a significant gap between our projected income and expenditure because of loss of income and pressures on our frontline services in terms of spending.”

However, Cllr Swindlehurst remained optimistic SBC is in a “good position” to deliver this year’s balanced budget despite pressures added by the pandemic.

The medium-term strategy was presented and noted at a cabinet meeting on December 14 (Monday).