County Councillor for Gartree January 25
Public Consultation on Budget
People across Leicestershire are being asked for their views on a new four-year budget plan.
Leicestershire County Council has launched a consultation after publishing proposals showing that rapidly rising demand for services, and inflation, are increasing costs by £217m. This compares to expected extra income and savings of £122m.
Council Tax Increase
The plan includes earmarking just under £100m more to support vulnerable children and adults, £12m more to fix potholes and repair roads and a 4.99% Council Tax increase.
The authority is set to balance the books for 2025/26 by using reserves to manage a small gap. By 2027, this gap is forecast to increase to £42m and rise to £95m by 2029.
Crucial Services for Leicestershire
The council’s yearly budget totals £616m – the authority is one of the biggest organisations in Leicestershire, spending around £10m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
Lee Breckon, Cabinet Member for Resources, says: “We’re in an extremely challenging position and it’s important we hear people’s views. I’d encourage everyone to make time to complete our short questionnaire.”
Complete the Short Questionnaire
The consultation runs until 19 January – https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/about-the-council/council-spending/our-budget-proposals-2025-29
Residents’ Council Tax bills include levies from county and district councils, police, fire and parish and town councils, who all set their own budgets.
The county’s proposals at a glance:
- The books balance for next year by using reserves to manage a small gap – with a budget gap of £42m in 2027, rising to £95m by 2029.
- Just under £100m more to support vulnerable people – in response to huge increase in demand.
- An extra £12m of capital to help fix potholes and repair roads – taking the total spend on roads, major schemes and tackling flooding to £125m.
- A Council Tax rise of 4.99% from April – generating an extra £20m which covers only the National Living Wage and National Insurance increases.
- £33m of savings – including redesigning services, reducing the cost of back-office support services by maximising digital technology and smarter procurement, plus £52m to bring spend on SEND more in line with Government funding.
- A £380m four-year capital pot – to fund one-off costs of building roads, social care accommodation, new school places needed to support new housing, and more.
Have Your Say on Nature Recovery Strategy
I encourage people to share their views on an ambitious new strategy to make space for nature across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland – https://surveys.leics.gov.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=173470592742
Developed with input from local councils, environmental groups, farmers, landowners, and the community, the draft strategy focuses on what needs urgent action to build a healthier, more connected natural environment. It’s all about creating space for nature to flourish while supporting local people and their livelihoods.
The draft strategy promotes using nature-based solutions to tackle climate challenges, improve ecosystems, and boost overall environmental health.
The Foot and Calf Muscle Pump
