Next steps for the Council's budget

Published: 28 February 2023

Yesterday, Full Council met to agree the Council’s budget, following a public consultation earlier in the year.

Following a wide-ranging debate and votes on three amendments, none of which gained the Council’s support, the main budget was put to the vote. There were 15 votes in favour, 16 against, and a number of abstentions.

This means Council Tax rates have not yet been set for the coming financial year, and all budget proposals remain on the table.

The meeting can be viewed on the Council’s YouTube channel.

The Government requires councils to set a balanced budget before 11 March. Group leaders will now meet to explore options for a balanced budget.

Full Council must then reconvene before 11 March to reconsider the budget proposals, and agree the Council’s budget and Council Tax levels for 2023/24.

This article will be updated with the details when the date is set.

Just as household budgets have been hit by increasing energy costs and inflation, councils across the country have also been affected as demand grows for services, particularly for the most vulnerable children and elderly people.

In addition to the Council having to find unprecedented savings for 2023/24 in a very short space of time, it is forecasting the need for a further similar amount by 2025/26 without local government funding reforms. 

A total of 524 people responded to the recent public consultation, which was almost five times more than the 108 who took part last year. An additional consultation around specific people’s services attracted a further 212 responses.



UPDATED 1 MARCH 2023: 

Full Council will reconvene tomorrow, Thursday 2 March at 6.00pm, to reconsider the budget proposals, and agree the Council’s budget and Council Tax levels for 2023/24.

The meeting will be streamed on the Council's YouTube channel.

Consultation, Democracy