Sefton Council is planning to raise car park charges in the borough and further increase council tax as part of a raft of measures to balance next year’s budget.
The proposals, which were released ahead of a Sefton Council budget meeting due to take place next Tuesday, February 7, also include vacancy freezes, pension reviews and building closures.
Council tax is expected to increase by the maximum amount to help balance the council’s books, with the report detailing how a 2.99% rise could generate £4.5m, with a further 2% rise in the adult social care precept adding over £3m to the council’s coffers.
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The council is planning to make a further £1m in savings from adult social care through a series of measures, including “transforming services” at council company New Directions and working to reduce the number of people accessing residential support.
This is in addition to £1.2m of savings already identified in the adult social care budget for 2023/24.
Other steps proposed include reviewing the service’s transport policy to “ensure utilisation of a range of transport opportunities including independent travel where appropriate” and a review into changes to the direct payments programme to “align to national best practice.”
Further proposals have been put forward including a reduction of the highways and maintenance budget for the borough by 15% – which the report states would bring in half a million pounds in savings.
Fees at leisure centres could also go up in a move the council hopes will bring in £200,000.
Details about which car parking charges could be increased or by what amount are not included in the report, but it does state that the move would be an “inflationary increase” that could generate the council £125,000 a year.
Closing – St Peter’s House, Pavilion and Crown Buildings and Ainsdale Hope- could generate over £400k in savings, according to the report – with additional measures including £300k for a review on non-staffing budgets. This measure, in particular, according to the report, could “impact on the services’ capacity to support front line services” – a risk the report states would “need to be managed.”
Proposed changes to pensions include a reduction in unfunded pensions from some employees who “retired years ago” which could bring in £100,000 of savings, and a comprehensive review of pension contributions which the report says could generate £1.9m this year and £700,000 annually over the next two years.
In a report accompanying the proposals, it is stated that Sefton alongside other councils “has been placed under extreme and unforeseen financial pressure that has been driven by inflation” with impacts on energy costs and key services alongside an increase in demand.
The report said the biggest challenge facing the council is the ever-increasing Children’s services budget, which is currently operating a £17m deficit and “growing month on month.”
The document added this presents “a real threat to the financial sustainability of the council” with nearly £18m needing to be added to next year’s children’s services budget, taking the total to £70m.
With “insufficient funding to meet the existing costs of the council” the report states that "savings are having to be made".
The budget report and proposals will first be discussed by councillors at a special meeting of the borough’s overview and scrutiny committee on February 7 and reaching full council on March 2.
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