Council grapples with £15 million cuts affecting services like libraries, social care, and youth projects.
Green leader Steve Davis spoke. He said finding more money is impossible, noting they cannot even “keep the lights on.” Davis mentioned national and global finance issues that hurt local funding. He also noted that money was found for extras before.
Davis wants bold government action and feels they are too scared to act. He has been in the council for six years, and he said things worsen each year. According to Davis, the council faces a managed decline, and asset ownership decreases. He feels like he is rearranging a sinking ship.
Councillor Sykes is also concerned. He said the cuts might hurt people, and those needing help may lose support. He also said that savings might not happen this year. This leads to emergency cutbacks, and Councils cannot function well this way. They spend half the year frozen, he said, wanting proper funding used for local services.
Increased national insurance adds pressure, costing £1.5 million and leading to job losses. Cutting civil trading advice is also a worry, as that cuts £27,000 from trading standards. Ending youth grants saves £40,000, and these grants affect local projects supporting youth activities.
Next Thursday, the council meets to talk about £15.8 million in cuts for the 2025-26 year. The overall budget is £1.1 billion, including capital spending, while day-to-day services will cost £880 million. Council tax will raise £198 million.
Council tax may rise 4.99 percent, with two percent of that for adult care. Band D council tax could total £2,455.79, including police and fire costs, though some residents pay extra fees. The meeting is next Thursday at 5:30 pm, and you can watch it online.