Newcastle City Council has unveiled the final proposals for its next budget, which are set to be approved by the cabinet next week.
These measures include provisions to save more than £15 million over the course of the next 12 months, which will be achieved through a 2.99% increase to council tax, a 2% increase to the Adult Social Care Precept, and a range of efficiency savings across the board. These proposals come following a public consultation lasting seven weeks.
As part of the budget, the council is planning to spend £281.2 million on everyday services, as well as a further £155 million on capital projects. The capital projects range from roads and houses to economically supportive assets.
Cabinet Member for Resources and Cabinet Secretary, Cllr Paul Frew, commented:
“Funding increases promised by the Government already include maximum increases in council tax and social care precepts. That means hard-working families have to pay the price.
“These are difficult proposals because increasing financial pressure on councils everywhere means our finances cannot stretch as far as we’d wish.
“Our priority will always be to ensure that we can continue to deliver our statutory duties and provide vital frontline services that our communities rely upon.
“We will continue to capitalise on any grant funding available to us to invest in our city and its people, to deliver services you can be proud of.”
The financial challenges being faced by councils around the country have been highly publicised, with Newcastle City Council being no different. Cost pressures worth £25.7 million have come from the costs associated with pay, social care, and contracted services, whilst a further £11.2 million of pressure can be attributed to the increasing demand for council services.
As part of the council’s Medium-Term Financial Plan, covering the period from 2024/25 to 2026/27, the council is planning to save £15.2 million through the following measures:
- Improving organisation efficiency – savings of £6.1 million
- Promoting independence and community resilience – savings of £2.2 million
- Safely reducing services – savings of £2.7 million
- Additional income generation – Bringing in £4.2 million
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