Residents in County Durham are being invited to have their say on proposals to balance council budgets next year and beyond.
Durham County Council’s Cabinet was this week told the council forecasts a budget gap of £64.1million over the next four years, with savings of £21.7m 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.
The council has already agreed £3.2m of savings for 2025/26, and £8.3m of savings for the next four financial years, following a public consultation last year.
Cabinet has now agreed to a further public consultation on the continued approach of the council to identify these savings, and what other services should be prioritised for savings to meet the £21.7m gap.
The council will also be asking for views on the proposal to increase council tax by the maximum of 2.99 per cent.
Cllr Richard Bell, Durham County Council’s 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 £3.2m 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 £64.1m 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.
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.
For full details of the savings proposals, or to complete the online survey or book a place at one of the AAP meetings, visit durham.gov.uk/consultation.
