00:01Liverpool Council has approved a budget that includes a 4.99% council tax rise,
00:08the highest allowed without holding a public referendum.
00:12That comes alongside planned savings totalling around £56 million across the council's gross
00:18expenditure. The council says this increase could generate an additional £19 million in revenue.
00:24The cuts will mainly affect housing and adult social services, with £20 million trimmed from
00:30the housing directorate and £15 million from adult and health services. Council leaders emphasised
00:35that the savings reflect transformation rather than service reductions, and highlighted initiatives
00:40such as free leisure access for under-18-year-olds. Opposition members criticised the budget,
00:46noting continuing pressures from past cuts, imbalance in local contributions, and called
00:51for alternative funding for low-carbon projects. Amendments from the Green, Liberal Democrat
00:56and your party groups were rejected, with the Labour majority passing the budget.
01:01The Bandy council tax is set at £2,254.37, or approximately £28 per week. Residents will
01:10see these changes reflected in their bills, while council projections warn of further savings
01:17needed by the year 2028. The city maintains its focus on prioritising young people and local
01:25services in the current financial year.
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