News-Residents' views sought on our budget

Our Cabinet was this week told the council forecasts a budget gap of £64.1million over the next four years, with savings of £21.7 million to be made in 2025/26 - even if council tax is increased by the maximum 2.99 per cent.

This is higher than previously forecast due to growing unfunded budget pressures, primarily in children's social care and home to school transport.

Alongside this are anticipated pressures from pay and price inflation linked in part to the expected National Living Wage increases across the next four years.

Meeting the gap

We have already agreed £3.2 million of savings for 2025/26, and £8.3million of savings for the next four financial years, following a public consultation last year.

Cabinet has now agreed to a further public consultation on our continued approach to identify these savings, and what other services should be prioritised for savings to meet the £21.7 million gap.

We will also be asking for views on the proposal to increase council tax by the maximum of 2.99 per cent.

Protecting the most vulnerable

Cllr Richard Bell, our deputy leader and Cabinet member for finance, said: "We continue to operate in a period of significant uncertainty and volatility.  For next year and across the next four years, the budget setting process will be more difficult than it has been previously due to a range of external factors that are outside our control, including significant increases in inflation and increase in demand for services. 

"We continue to prioritise protecting our most vulnerable residents through very difficult times of huge pressure on household budgets. Of course, providing this level of support does come at a cost in terms of lost revenues.

"We're seeking people's views on council tax levels and on areas where we should prioritise savings to augment the £3.2 million of savings proposals already agreed for next year. We're also looking for views on what service areas we should continue to prioritise longer term, to achieve the £64.1 million in savings needed over the next four years."

Cabinet also agreed to extend the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for another year, with this proposal now to be considered by Full Council on 25 September.

Have your say

Residents can take part in the six-week consultation, which closes at 5pm on Friday 1 November, by completing an online survey.

Paper surveys are available from libraries and Customer Access Points.

There is also the option for residents to attend their local Area Action Partnership (AAP) board meeting, where a presentation will be given and they can fill in the survey.