Councillors on the finance committee debated the administration’s draft 2026/27 budget and five-year financial plan at the Guildhall on Monday night.
The proposals will come under further scrutiny at a full council meeting on January 12.
Liberal Democrat council leader Sam Charleston described the administration’s budget plans as “responsible and forward-looking” and said they contain no service cuts.
But Conservative councillor Sven Hocking said the council leadership’s proposals were “steady, as-you-go” and lack “wow factor”.
Key expenditures include up to £400,000 to repair the Grade I-listed Poultry Cross, the last of four market crosses that once stood in Salisbury.
An inspection last year revealed “significant deterioration of the timber roof structure”, leading to the erection of temporary scaffolding.
The investment would be split between 2027/28 and 2028/29.
The budget could also see £280,000 spent on renovating and reopening the marketplace public toilets, and £200,000 on refurbishing the central car park loos.
Neil Harrison addresses the finance committee (Image: Salisbury City Council)
Both toilet blocks closed in April under last year’s budget, but a working group later identified a preferred plan to see the underground market loos brought back.
An asset transfer with Wiltshire Council over the car park facilities is under negotiation.
Resident Neil Harrison, who has lived in Salisbury for 24 years, asked why the council would spend so heavily on toilet provision and the cross.
“These are huge numbers,” Mr Harrison said.
“I cannot believe that you’re prepared to accept those numbers.
“Can I ask you to examine your conscience and to see if you are using taxpayers’ money wisely?”
Cllr Charleston said the Poultry Cross’s condition was caused by years of poor maintenance before it came under city council ownership.
City council leader Sam Charleston (Image: Salisbury City Council)
“As long as we hold responsibility for it, it is our responsibility to look after it,” he said.
“I will justify any decision to keep the Poultry Cross standing. It’s part of Salisbury’s heritage.
“Only one is left. If we allow this one to go as well, then the city is poorer for it.
“There is in this budget a lot of forward planning. A good example of that is the cremators in the crematorium.
“The crematorium is one of our great assets. It brings us in more income than anything else other than the precept.
“There is a pot of money that is being provisioned for in the future to make sure that, when the burners stop working, we are able to replace them.”
Budget documents say the cremators will need to be replaced “in or around 2033” at the cost of approximately £1m.
The administration has proposed setting aside £525,000 of “forward funding” between 2028/29 and 2030/31 to help foot the bill.
On the public toilets, cllr Charleston said: “They are under our responsibility. It is right, I believe, to try and make sure we are keeping them in a good position.”
The administration’s budget would see a Band D property pay an extra 4.99 per cent towards city council services in 2026/27 – an additional £19.07.
For 2027/28, the city council’s precept rise is budgeted at 3.99. No rise in the precept is budgeted for the following three years to 2031.
At next week’s full council meeting, the administration will consider putting more money towards the city’s Christmas lights provision.
Councillors will also discuss raising the annual allowance they are eligible to claim, which has remained at £750 since 2009.
Atiqul Hoque, deputy chair of the finance committee, said this will help councillors cover their costs and incentivise people to stand for election in future.
The Conservative group presented an opposition budget to the committee, but members voted against taking it to Monday’s full council meeting (January 12).
That meeting will start at 6.30pm at the Guildhall.
