£22m of savings to balance Nottingham’s budget

Nottingham City Council is looking to agree £22 million of savings to balance its 2019/20 budget, by reducing or changing the way some services are delivered.

With government funding cut by three quarters since 2013, dropping from £127 million to just £25 million for the forthcoming year, the council currently spends 70 per cent of its entire budget on children’s services and adult social care.

To fund other council services, the council is proposing a council tax increase of 2.99 per cent, adding an extra £146 to a Band D council tax bill in Nottingham.

Some of the other proposed savings over the next three years being discussed by the council’s Executive Board include: reducing the number of Link Bus services; increasing some charges for council services; reducing contributions to the NGY youth centre; and an initial reduction of around 27 jobs, with more likely.

Nottingham City Council is also planning on bringing in over £20 million a year through commercial activities such as reducing energy bills and generating income from installing solar panels on council buildings, increasing income from the Royal Centre and opening cafes.

Jon Collins, council leader, said: “The government is once again drastically reducing the amount of money it provides for council services in Nottingham, and expecting local people to contribute more through their council tax. We don’t want to increase council tax but the government has left us with no other option if we are going to continue providing vital local services.

“However, we do remain ambitious for Nottingham and so wherever possible we are finding ways to invest in the city’s future, through improved education, training and job opportunities, key capital projects that bring growth and prosperity and enriching our local communities with better housing, transport and affordable leisure activities.”