Each year the Council approves a budget that makes provision for the total estimated cost of providing its services. This budget book contains details of the Council's spending plans for services to be provided between for each financial year, covering:
Day-to-day running costs: The Council's General Fund Revenue Account' budget makes financial provision for all 'operational' expenditure on services,
New Investment: The Capital Programme makes budget provision for expenditure on major schemes or works,
Maintenance of Council Assets: Separate provision is made for the major repair and maintenance of the Council's existing property, vehicle, plant and equipment through contributions to the Property Maintenance Fund and the Repairs and Renewals Fund.
Revenue budget
The budget is divided into individual portfolios each of which contains a number of services. A member of the Executive is responsible for each portfolio
- Economic Development Portfolio
- Environment and Health Portfolio
- Finance and Customer Services Portfolio
- Housing, Safeguarding and Support Portfolio
- Leisure, Culture and Community Portfolio
- Planning and Control Portfolio
- Transformation Portfolio
The overall allocation of resources to the portfolios is recommended by the Executive in January with the overall budget approved by full Council in February each year
Net budget requirement
The net cost of the portfolio budgets is met in part by the application of interest earned on capital and revenue balances internal funding from reserves, government grants and Council Tax.
The level of Council Tax is determined by Full Council in February each year.
Capital programme
The Council separately accounts for its expenditure on new assets or on the improvement of existing assets, where the benefit to the borough will extend beyond one year. Each year a new programme is approved.
Collection fund
The Council collects local taxation within the Borough on behalf of Surrey County Council, Surrey Police and the Parish Councils as well as that needed to meet its own requirements. The money collected is separately managed along with central government grants. Of the total collected only 12% or so remains with Surrey Heath.
Further information and analysis is included in the Council Tax leaflet, which is issued to all of the Borough's residents and businesses.