Have your say on Bury’s Budget

Monday, 11 November 2024 15:40

By David Murphy

Bury Council’s Cabinet has approved the proposed budget 2025/26 for public consultation.

The public consultation will run from Monday 11 November to Monday 23 December and all residents are encouraged to have their say on the recommendations and how savings can be made within the council.

Have your say on Bury’s budget: https://www.bury.gov.uk/counci..

There is a budget gap of £35m for the three years up to 2028, although potential savings of £9.4m have already been identified. These measures will help to reduce the remaining gap to more than £22m – with the majority of that needing to be found in the first year.

Councillor Sean Thorpe, cabinet member for finance, said: “We understand how important it is for the people of Bury to understand and be involved in our budget decisions.

“We are, again, faced with huge challenges caused by insufficient funding, huge increases in costs, and an ever-increasing demand for services, particularly in adults’ and children’s social care which together take up nearly three-quarters of our budget.

“We are in the bottom 20 per cent for council funding, and our spending power in real terms has been slashed over the past decade. We have already found £150 million in savings over that period.

“Bury is not alone in this challenge – it’s a serious problem faced by many councils across the country, who have been underfunded for more than a decade. The only long-term solution is a complete review of the way councils are funded, something that was promised years ago, and which we and others have long called for.”

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, said: “Bury is one of many councils facing a significant budget challenge.

“We are seeking to manage this through a mixture of cost savings and economic growth from investment, with major regeneration projects underway in Radcliffe, Bury and Prestwich.

“We want to hear from residents about how the council continues to invest in the borough whilst managing diminishing resources. This is our home, and we all want to ensure that our borough thrives for generations to come.”