The Council spends £862 million on services, ranging from social care and support for vulnerable families; to public protection, planning and economic growth; to libraries, highways and street cleaning; and many more. These services have an impact on all our lives.
Budgets are about choices. Choices about what we spend your money on, how we shape the communities we live in and the services we receive. These choices need to be informed by what matters to you.
While we have made savings of more than £530 million since 2009, like all councils, we continue to face pressures on services and budgets. More people need more complex support, particularly in relation to adults' and children's social care. We also face rising inflation, which is likely to cost an additional £36 million over the next four years.
This means we face a funding gap of around £105 million over the next four years. Business rates and council tax, along with agreed savings we have already consulted on will help to reduce the gap. The remaining funding gap will be around £42 million, with £19 million to be saved in the first two years.
This consultation will be open until 11pm on 4 December 2022.
For more information and to share your views on how we could close the funding gap: click here