Newcastle council defends council tax rise and forty million pounds savings plan

Local TV

Labour leaders in Newcastle say proposed tax increases and service cuts are needed to balance the city’s books, manage rising costs, and maintain frontline services over the next three years.

Transcript

00:00Newcastle City Council is planning to save £40 million over the next three years, including

00:08nearly £4 million from the 2026 to 2027 budget.

00:14Around 75 jobs could be lost as the council aims to streamline its services.

00:19Council leader Karen Kilgore told the Corporate Scrutiny Committee that £400 million have

00:25already been cut since 2010.

00:28She said rising costs and increasing demand for social care and services for residents

00:33with special needs make further savings unavoidable.

00:36Kilgore added that a council tax rise of 4.99%, the maximum allowed without a referendum, is

00:43needed to protect frontline services.

00:47Opposition councillors have questioned the timing of savings, noting that most cuts beyond

00:51next year are delayed until 2027 or later.

00:56Kilgore said the budget focuses on efficiency and technology to deliver long-term savings,

01:02while using £4.1 million from cash reserves in a phased approach.

01:07She emphasised ongoing discussions with the government to secure funding for residents,

01:12and said the council's approach aims to reduce future service demand.

01:17These proposals show the difficult choices facing Newcastle, balancing finances while maintaining

01:23essential services for all of the city's residents.

01:27plan to ensure the

01:31operational issues during盆s of the government-priest

01:38in the future.

01:39Say the 정 Line of the Government if you don't want to cover the system.

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