Government commissioners overseeing Liverpool Council said a “significant challenge” remains in achieving its savings targets for the year ahead.
The city council has confirmed it will need to fill a budget gap of £49m, rather than the eye-watering £73m first feared after a better-than-expected receipt of government funding just before Christmas. Despite this, council tax is expected to go up by almost 5% for the next financial year.
Some less palatable options put forward will not go ahead however, with plans to reduce or remove the benefits maximisation team; reduction of the council tax support scheme; reducing the number of One Stop Shops and removal of council tax relief for foster carers, being scrapped. Now, budget papers made public by Liverpool Council have detailed the assessment of the financial situation by government-appointed commissioners.
