Council approves budget to invest in communities
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s proposals for a balanced budget for 2025-26 were approved by Full Council on Thursday 20 February.
The package has been developed over recent months and shaped by feedback from residents and local organisations, through a public consultation exercise which took place last Autumn.
A balanced budget for 2025-26 was approved, along with proposed plans for 2026 – 2029, with a cumulative funding gap of £4.1 million over this period and a longer- term capital investment and expenditure programme for 2025 – 2029.
As part of the package, an increase in Council Tax of 4.99% was also approved.
This is made up of a 2.99% increase in Basic Council Tax and a 2% Adult Social Care Precept.
The rising costs and demand for Adult Social Care, as well as the need to ensure a sustainable provider market, has resulted in the Council once again needing to raise this additional 2% Adults Social Care precept as part of the Council Tax.
This increase will result in a Band D Council Tax bill for residents of £1,978.09, which is an increase of £1.81 per week from the previous year. Over 60% of properties in the borough are in Band A-C, so will see a lower increase in their bill than this.
Councillor Carol Gahan, Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance Services at the Council, said:
The plan builds on the Council’s proven ability to target spending and resources into areas of need. It will mean financial sustainability whilst delivering significant savings over many years. “It builds on feedback we received from local people through their responses to our budget consultation - and our strong commitment to minimising the impact of our financial situation on the people who live and work in west Cheshire. “Although grant funding from Central Government has increased by £15.1m this year, this is not enough to meet the additional demands of our legal responsibility to support our vulnerable adults and children. Nonetheless, our plans see an investment of £88m over the next four years into social care for children and adults and to fund preventive services which will support people earlier. We are building on projects that have started in 2024-25, which are ultimately aimed at preventing children coming into care and by delivering reablement services that will promote independence and reduce the demand for long term care. “There will be support to residents in need and to businesses impacted by economic pressures, as well as more suitable accommodation to support the homeless and rough sleepers and continued funding to support anti-poverty initiatives. “We will be investing £105m over the next four years to improve our roads. The funds included in the capital programme for 2025-26 are the highest level that this council has ever committed to highways maintenance. £1.2m will be invested into street care equipment and we are backing this up with an extra £200,000 invested annually to deliver enhanced street care maintenance. "Overall, we will be delivering a programme of regeneration projects to create greener and more prosperous communities in and around our towns and city. All this is part of a capital programme totalling £415m for the next four years. £129m of this will be in 2025-26 and will be focused on creating and supporting sustainable business growth alongside the opportunities created by the agenda for regional devolution.
