Council tax is to go up by almost 5% across Liverpool but a number of painful cuts affecting some of the city's most vulnerable people have been avoided.
Liverpool Council has published its confirmed budget plans for the next financial year following receipt of a government settlement just before Christmas. As a result, the amount the city needs to save stands at £49m, a signifanct reduction from the £73m previously feared.
As part of the better than expected settlement outcome, the local authority has confirmed welfare-related budget options including the reduction or removal of 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 have been avoided. However, the council has confirmed it will seek to raise Council Tax by the maximum permitted level of 4.99% when it meets on March 1.
