- Budget consultation launches today – just 10 minutes could influence years of local services
- Shape how council tax is spent locally: for every £1 of council tax collected, only 10p funds Tamworth Borough Council services
- Have your say at www.tamworth.gov.uk/consultation
Tamworth Borough Council is calling on residents, businesses and community groups to help decide how millions of pounds should be spent on local services over the coming years.
The council's annual budget consultation, which launches today, gives local people direct influence over spending decisions that will shape the borough for years to come. With government funding continuing to fall while costs rise, every decision about where money goes becomes increasingly important.
The 10-minute online survey breaks down exactly how the council currently spends money across all its services – from weekly bin collections and keeping streets clean, to supporting homeless people, running Tamworth Castle and tackling antisocial behaviour. Residents can say whether each service should get more funding, less funding, or stay the same.
Councillor Carol Dean, Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said:
"This isn't just about next year's budget – the choices we make now will affect Tamworth for years to come. With less money coming from government along with rising costs for everything, we need to be smart about every pound we spend.
"Whether it's keeping your bins collected weekly, maintaining our beautiful parks, or supporting our most vulnerable residents – we want to know what matters most to you.
“Every penny counts, especially at a time when councils across the country are having to do more with less. That’s why it’s so important we listen to the people of Tamworth when deciding where our limited resources should go.
“I encourage everyone to take a few minutes out of their day to fill in the survey and help us make the right decisions for our communities.”
Take part in the survey before 20 October to have your voice heard. It can be completed online at https://www.tamworth.gov.uk/council/consultation, or visit Marmion House reception to collect a paper copy. Once the survey closes, all feedback will be reviewed by the council’s cabinet and will inform budget decisions for the upcoming year.
The stark financial reality
Tamworth Borough Council receives just 10 pence from every pound of council tax paid by residents – around £186 per year for an average Band C property. The remaining goes to Staffordshire County Council, police and fire services.
This small slice of council tax, combined with business rates and declining government grants, funds a wide range of services including:
- Weekly bin collections and recycling
- Maintaining parks, open spaces, and street cleaning
- Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Tamworth Castle and local heritage
- Customer services, including benefit support and advice
- Supporting homeless people and housing advice
- Tackling antisocial behaviour
- Sports and leisure facilities
- Cemeteries
- Supporting local businesses
- Planning, food premises inspections and taxi licencing
How to take part
The consultation runs until 20 October and is available online at https://www.tamworth.gov.uk/council/consultation. Paper copies are available from Marmion House.
All responses will be reviewed by the council's cabinet and will directly inform budget decisions for 2026/27 and beyond. A summary of results will be published after the consultation closes.