WILTSHIRE council has put forward its first annual budget without grants from central government.

The authority unveiled its draft budget yesterday asking for a further rise of 2.99 per cent in council tax for 2019/20.

Since 2009 government funding, in the form of the Revenue Support Grant, has fallen by more than £130 million since 2009.

Although it will continue to receive government funds from other sources, including ring-fenced grants from Public Health and the Business Rates Retention scheme.

This is despite growing demand for social and adult care services across the county, a growing population, and more children and young people being recognised as having special educational needs.

A report prepared for the meeting said: "There are significant cost pressures arising from changing demographics and a growing population. These leads to an increase in demand for adult and children services, as well as other services across the Council.

"This results in a gross funding requirement in 2019/20 to meet all of these challenges of £44.815 million."

Next year the council will spend almost £332 million on more than 350 services, rising to £371 million over the next five years.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “Each year we face the tough challenge of balancing the budget to ensure that we can allocate sufficient funding to deliver our priorities – and in the ten years since we became Wiltshire Council I am proud to say we have done this.

“However, this year marks a huge change as we move away from relying on grants from the government, and take control of our own finances. This is vital as it allows us to plan with more certainty and support those who are most vulnerable.”

A final decision on the budget will be made by councillors on February 26.