Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The 2012-13 budget is making its way through various council meetings.

The good news is that your Wiltshire Council tax bill will not increase this year.

The government has given WC a grant to allow it to freeze the rate. With the police and fire service likely to freeze theirs the only element which might increase is your town or parish council precept. Hilperton has increased theirs, but this is only a miniscule part of the overall bill.

However, the bad news is that the government is unlikely to provide the grant next year, so a rise of at least 5% is likely between 2013 and 2015.

WC's income comes from council tax, government funding, fees for services (such as planning) and charges for car parking etc. Miscalculations by the council means that the fees & charges income is down on the projected figures. Despite the council tax freeze there is a slight increase in income because of new house building. The grants from government have been reasonable, with only a small decline this year. However, Jane Scott's programme of redundancies and cuts to services will continue.

To 'help decision-making' (or, in other words, justify cuts to services) the council has held consultation events in the four districts. A splendid total of 75 people(!) attended these - less than nineteen people per event. As members of the public become more used to the skewed questions asked at these 'consultations' the attendance will probably drop even further.

Accordingly, it is proposed that there will be increased spending on roads (£18.7m up from £18.1m), adult social care (£9.6m up from £4.4m) and social housing, where the Private Finance Initiative is finally, after many years and a huge financial expenditure, beginning to build houses (including about 30 in Hilperton).

The money from government comes in a variety of different grants, but the total amount is likely to be £136.2million, a reduction from last year's £141.9m.