West Berkshire Council £400,000 Budget Error

West Berkshire Council has made a budgeting error of £400,000. At its Executive meeting last Thursday, the Conservative administration admitted that they would be getting £400,000 from the government that they had not budgeted for. The money is from the "New Homes Bonus" and they forgot that they would continue to get this year's bonus next year as well as next year's.

However, instead of using the money to stop some of the budget cuts to things like social services to the disabled and old, they have decided to put the £400,000 in reserves - effectively leaving it in the bank.