Council’s proposed 2025-26 budget seeks to make £42.8m worth of savings

Bradford Council’s proposed budget for 2025-26, which features a planned council tax hike of nearly 10%, will be presented to its Executive on 4 March, and then to full council for approval on 6 March.

The budget report stresses the council, “continues to face severe financial challenge as a result of the previous Government’s funding cuts, historically low council tax base and the rising costs of children’s and adult social care.”

It acknowledges that while the government recognises the fragility of local government finances nationally and is bringing forward plans to address this, there is still a need for significant action at local level. 

Bradford Council says it is progressing with its five-year plan to return to financial sustainability with savings proposals of £42.8m being brought forward for the coming year.

Included with this, as well as finding more efficient ways of working, is the proposed “one-off” increase in council tax of 9.99%, which the council says will help avoid additional borrowing costs of £111m over the next 20 years. 

However, the council warns it will still need to make savings of £50m per year for the following four years.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: “Following 14 years of cuts to funding from central government and increasing costs of children’s and adult social care the choice we face is stark.

“We either increase council tax by £2-3 a week which I know is hard for many people, or council taxpayers have to spend more of their money in future years on just paying off borrowing costs.

“It’s not a choice anyone wants to have to make.  

“We are trying wherever possible to find new ways of working and new funding sources so that we can save money for council taxpayers without cutting vital services.

“But the proposals laid out in this budget are vital in getting finances back on track.

“The council provides essential services which many people rely on. To continue delivering those vital services we have to ensure the council’s finances are sustainable.

“Unfortunately, that means making difficult decisions like this.”