Calderdale Council Tax set to rise by five per cent as leaders discuss financial struggles in the borough

Briefing papers issued for the meeting indicate the council will have to find savings or make cuts of around £34.1 million over the next three years to balance its books, including £8 million in the coming financial year.

Given that proposals for savings including cutting services including some libraries and selling some public buildings have already been agreed by Cabinet, members have already said the council will have to take some difficult decisions by the time the annual Budget Council is held on February 22.

Other known areas where savings might be made include limiting waste recycling services, proposals which have been highly controversial.

There are some caveats – at Monday’s meeting Cabinet members will be asked to agree to the council’s Place Scrutiny Board’s request that community asset transfers are fully explored before some buildings are closed and possibly sold, and discussions are under way about some of these.

Taking into account the recent funding announcements made by Government include a range of COVID-19 support measures and the local government funding settlement which is for one year only, the council’s revised bottom line position shows budget deficits of £8 million for 2021-22, £12.4 million for 2022-23 and £13.7 for 2023-24 – totalling around £34.1 million.

For 2021-22, local authorities’ core spending power will increase by around 4.5 per cent, this is expected to be slightly higher in Calderdale’s case at about 4.9 per cent.

With a recommendation that the authority maintains balances of not less than £5 million as recommended by auditors, room to manoeuvre is limited.

Papers which will be discussed at the meeting also indicate it is likely Council Tax payers will be asked to pay around five per cent extra for services – the maximum councils are allowed to increase this income by without a local referendum.

This would consist of a two per cent basic rise in Council Tax, plus three per cent precept ring fenced for social care, which Government allows councils to levy.

Spiralling adults’ and children and young people’s social care costs – care packages which the council has to provide legally and which help the most vulnerable – have been a budget issue for Calderdale for some years and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased these pressures.

The meeting, which starts at 6pm next Monday, will be screened on the council’s YouTube channel.