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Wakefield’s 2025/26 budget proposals published

Monday, January 13, 2025

Wakefield Council has published initial budget proposals to balance its 2025/26 budget.  

The plans set out how Wakefield is taking responsible budget decisions so that the Council can protect frontline services that residents rely on at the same time as having a sustainable future.

The proposals have been shaped by the priorities of the local community. Nearly 900 residents responded to the Council’s budget priorities survey in the autumn.

The feedback confirmed that residents want to protect frontline services. Support the Council’s ambition to be more efficient and modernise how we provide some services. And understand that raising more income is one of the only ways to balance the budget.

Views from the public are being invited in January on the specific initial budget proposals, with a residents survey now open until Friday 31 January at https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/WakefieldCouncilBudgetProposals

“We’ve a new Government with a new approach. They’ve made some welcome early steps to support local public services. But, with such a dire inheritance, it’s going to take time to fix the foundations of our economy.

“Like Councils across the country we’re still dealing with a legacy of years of underfunding. The impact of inflation on our budget. And with increasing demand for our services. That can’t be sorted out overnight.

“It means that we’re having to make some tough decisions in our budget this year to enable us to move forward with confidence. As we do that, we’re placing community feedback about local priorities at the heart of our plans.

“The budget strikes the right balance. Protecting frontline services. Taking responsible steps to balance our budget. And setting up the Council to be sustainable into the future so that we can continue to deliver for our communities.”

Cllr Denise Jeffery

Leader of Wakefield Council

Cllr Denise Jeffery

The 2025/26 initial budget report will be discussed by the Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 21 January. It outlines proposals to make savings and efficiencies of £29 million including;

  • Saving £3.8 million through use of technology and digital transformation
  • Changing organisational and business support services to save £3.0 million
  • Saving £2.0 million with a review of property and facilities management arrangements
  • Saving £2.5 million by improving commissioning and contract management
  • Saving £3.9 million by changing the way some adult social care services work, maximising the independence of people receiving care
  • Saving over £1.0 million by reducing the use of hotels for homelessness provision
  • Reducing costly external placements in children’s social care, saving £1.4 million by having more in-house provision
  • Reviewing the frequency of garden waste collections. Offering a monthly collection as a minimum
  • Varying the opening times of some libraries, museums and castles
  • Raising £1.9 million by increasing some fees and charges

Additionally the Council is aiming to generate £1.2 million of additional income from housing and business growth. And to raise £9.1 million by raising Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept by a combined 4.99%.

The increase is likely to still mean Wakefield has the second lowest Council Tax in West Yorkshire. It equates to an extra £1.65 per week for Band D households and £1.10 per week for Band A households. This funding is essential to protect frontline services.

“We’ve listened carefully to feedback from the public in developing these proposals.

“It’s clear that our communities highly value the frontline services they use every day. So we’ve done everything we can to protect those services as much as we can in these plans.

“We’re also working hard to be more efficient. To modernise how we work. And to get the best possible value for money in everything we do.

“But we know that some of the decisions are still difficult and will mean changes for residents. So I’d urge everyone to have their say on the proposals by completing the Council’s budget proposals survey which is now open.”

Cllr Jack Hemingway

Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council

Cllr Jack Hemingway

The consultation on the 2025/26 budget proposals is open until 31 January. Once feedback has been considered, the final budget proposals will be reported to Cabinet in February and then formally approved at a special meeting of Full Council on 3 March 2025.

 

For information

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