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MANCHESTERU
Budget Consultation 2013-2015
We have less money, so how should we spend it?
The Council would like your views on its spending plans for 2013-2015. Here, you will
find a summary of the proposals, links to supporting documents including the full committee
reports for consideration, and a chance to tell us your views about the plans.
We have already made savings of £170 million between 2011 and 2013.
Following the latest financial settlement from central government, we now have a funding
gap of around £80 million over the next two years. This represents a reduction of
15% of the net spend of the Council.
This £80 million is accounted for by a combination of £50 million in central government
funding reductions, plus £30 million in unavoidable cost pressures caused by factors
such as increased waste costs, inflation, a growing population with extra demands on
services for older people, people with learning difficulties and those with mental health
and physical disabilities.
Manchester has the biggest percentage reduction of any of England ‘s cities, the biggest
in Greater Manchester, and one of the biggest in the country.
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The Council anticipates it will need to lose the equivalent of around 830 full-time jobs, in addition to
more than 2,000 lost in the last two years.
Despite planning further efficiencies and staff reductions, it simply isn’t possible to continue doing everything
we currently do in the way that we currently do it.
Our Budget Priorities
Despite the financial challenges, the Council remains committed to its three budget priorities. These
are:
People - initiatives include earlier and more joined-up services for families and integrated health and
social care delivery.
Place - the Council plays a key role in securing the social, physical and economic future of the city. We
want residents to live in sustainable neighbourhoods with a good waste collection service, with access
to high quality libraries and leisure facilities. We want to support housing development and increase the
supply of affordable housing.
Growth - developing the city’s role as an engine of economic growth to create jobs, in Manchester and
the wider region.
The Council will also look at how services can become more efficient.
Read the Council’s proposed budget plans in detail.
Directorate Savings
Changes to libraries, leisure facilities, bin collections, parking and bus lane enforcement, services for
children and adults are being proposed. Details of all these changes can be found via the budget plans
link above.
Council Tax
Council Tax revenue is used to fund services for residents, and to pay for charges for waste disposal
and transport. The costs of waste disposal and transport services are going up significantly and are
charged to the Council through a levy. The financial position after the latest government settlement
means the Council can no longer absorb the rising cost of these levies and is proposing to fund some
of this increase through raising Council Tax. However, the increase in Council Tax is being kept as low
as possible and the amount of Council Tax that the Council has to support council services will actually
decrease.
A Council Tax increase of 3.7% in 2013/14, excluding charges to police and fire services, is therefore
being proposed. This would mean the average monthly increase would be £2.68. As part of the proposals,
it is planned to offer 12 monthly payments rather than the current 10 months to help spread the
cost.
Manchester has frozen its Council Tax for three financial years running and has kept any increases at,
or below, inflation for more than a decade, leaving it with one of the lowest average council taxes in the
country. Even taking into account the proposed rise, it would remain one of the lowest average bills.
Conclusion and next steps
Difficult decisions have to be made, not
least the proposal to increase Council Tax.
We know times are tough for residents and
we have consistently kept bills down, but
the pressures we now face mean this is no
longer possible.
Following public consultation and consideration
by the Finance Scrutiny Committee on
25 February, the budget will be put forward
for formal approval at the Budget Council
meeting on 8 March.
At Executive on 23 January permission will
be sought to begin consultation on changes
to specific services, including libraries and
leisure. These consultations are now live
and can be found at www.manchester.gov.
uk/consultations
The dates for consultation are:
Budget Consultation - Until 20 February 2013
Leisure - 23 January to 8 March 2013
Libraries - 23 January to 17 April 2013
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