Wiltshire Council not cutting as it says prevention is key

Leader Richard Clewer says Wiltshire's tax rise is needed to cover rising costs

A council is bucking the trend and avoiding sweeping cuts, but has still chosen to raise council tax.

Wiltshire Council's cabinet meeting this week set out the budget plans with council tax going up by 5%.

It said it has taken years of work to get ahead financially, including tackling prevention in areas like social services.

Council leader Richard Clewer said they wanted to stop problems before they occurred.

Other councils have been having a difficult time, with some at risk of bankruptcy.

The council has been investing in areas such adult social service and as children's services.

Mr Clewer explained: "What we have done is taken an approach which says we are going to plan ahead, and we are going to focus on prevention.

"With our own buildings, we have invested significantly in renewable energy and making them more energy efficient.

"We are now saving £2m a year as a result with our children's services focused really on stopping children coming into care in the first place."

Janet Warner-Waite said she is almost back to her usual self after getting help from the prevention and wellbeing team

For 12 years Janet Warner-Waite did not leave her home in Westbury.

She has disabilities, but now she takes regular trips out: "I am over the moon. I am back to being almost me.

"I was walking dead, I was an official zombie, who people thought was senile. I am now back to being mostly how I used to be."

Following the death of Ms Warner-Waite's husband in 2019, social services were called and it was thought she may have to go to a costly residential home.

Instead, the council's prevention and wellbeing team were able to step in.

Steve Hubbard, from the council team, said: "If we can support people in their own community at the earliest possible stage, that prevents the situation escalating, becoming crisis point, where they need that formal intervention from adult social care services."

Colleen does not believe she would have been able to keep her son without the pre-birth help

As part of Children's Services, Colleen was referred for Wiltshire Council's pre-birth intervention after previously having children taken into care.

She has now been able to keep her son after using the service and getting help from a case worker.

"She helped me to re-integrate back into the community," Colleen said.

"They're more in touch with you than social workers, it's a lot more intensive. She was able to report back to the social worker with how far I've come in my life."

Colleen does not believe she would have kept her child if if were not for the service.

"I would say that if you're given the opportunity to be part of the pre-birth assessment, go for it," she said.

"I know it's scary, but it would be one of the best things you ever do."

Reducing the carbon footprint of its buildings is said to be saving Wiltshire Council £2m a year in running costs

Another programme the council has invested in is Dads Matter Too, which gives "intensive support" to dads who may be handling other issues too.

Project worker, Ceri Evans, said: "We work on a whole variety of stuff - we do an initial grading tool where dads will tell us where they think they're at.

"These are grown men - they've got their own minds. We're trying to teach an alternative way to think."

As well as one-to-ones, the project has an eight week online course.

"Quite often they're seen as a separate to mums, so by having Dads Matter it pushes a 360 approach for the child," Mr Evans said.

"I feel it's a real success."

Marvyn Moreman was referred to the project and said that without the help he "probably wouldn't have been able to see my child".

"They drove with me to visits and stayed with me," he said.

"When I had appointments, they helped fight my corner, a very useful service."

Wiltshire Council will actually have a small surplus, which Mr Clewer has said previously can be invested into other areas like gully clearance to help prevent flooding.

He has also explained that council tax still has to rise, partly due to inflation.

The final version of the budget will be debated and voted on by all councillors later in the month.