Stockport's Liberal Democrat administration has said that there will be 'no surprises' in the upcoming 2024/25 budget. 

The budget will be announced on Thursday 22 February, following a lengthy period of cross-party preparation and a public consultation.

Councillors are faced with the task of balancing the budget at a time of high inflation, energy costs, and increasing demand for services.

Given rising financial pressures, the council will have to save £10.861m, "with further significant savings needed in the coming years". 

(Image - Alasdair Perry)

To balance the budget, the council will introduce a 'difficult but necessary' council tax increase (4.99pc), and look at a range of services.

Nonetheless, although the administration acknowledged the difficult economic climate, councillors maintained that the budget will be 'balanced' and 'ambitious'. 

Cllr Jilly Julian, budget-lead and cabinet member for finance and resources, said that tackling poverty would be a priority, as would addressing drainage, road safety, and parking enforcement. 

Cllr Julian said: "Come Thursday evening there will be no surprises from the Liberal Democrats – just the proposal of a sound budget that implements the changes needed to balance our books for another year."

Cllr Jilly Julian said: I am frankly relieved that we are able to present the council with a balanced budget which delivers against an ambitious refresh of the Council Plan." (Image - Stockport Council)

Cllr Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, added: "I am pleased that Stockport Council has such a well-established and mature approach to sound financial management and budget setting, with all parties engaged positively in delivering the very best for our borough that we can afford.

"We are not in the same difficulties as [other councils] because we have taken the difficult decisions as they needed to be taken over many years. 

"Together each year we have re-shaped our services, we have made only prudent use of reserves, and we have taken the difficult but necessary decisions around council tax increases."

The Local Government Finance Settlement

Local authorities such as Stockport receive funding from the UK Government in the form of the local government finance settlement, although many politicians have argued that this funding is failing to keep up with demand. 

Clive Betts MP, chair of Parliament's committee for Levelling Up, housing and communities, said "the funding model for local councils is broken".

He added: "The government must use the local government financial settlement to help bridge the £4bn funding gap for 2024-25 or risk already strained council services becoming stretched to breaking point."

However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 'completely rejected' claims that council funding had been cut. 

During his visit to Marple in January, Mr Sunak said: "Over the past few years, we've put more money into council funding - not just in the North West, but across the country."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rejected claims that funding for local authorities had been cut during his visit to Marple in January (Image - Alasdair Perry)

He added: "[Local authorities] had around 10% more cash to spend this year than they had the year before. And, on top of that, we're investing directly into local communities."

Similarly, a spokesperson for the department for Levelling Up, housing and communities said: "We recognise councils are facing challenges and that is why we recently announced an additional £600 million support package for councils across England, increasing their overall proposed funding for next year to £64.7 billion – a 7.5pc increase in cash terms."

However, other politicians maintain that there is more to be done when it comes to government funding of councils.

Speaking at a meeting of Stockport Council in January, Cllr Julian said: "I feel compelled to do some myth-busting about the 'real terms increase in funding'. 

The borough-wide budget will be introduced on Thursday 22 February (Image - Alasdair Perry)

"The average increase that [the government] has quoted assumes every authority increases council tax by the maximum amount.

"That increased income accounts for more than half of the 'additional funding' that the secretary [for Levelling Up] is so generously making available."

Later in the evening, Cllr Christine Carrigan introduced a motion - seconded by Cllr Julian - which "[noted] with concern the indicative Local Government Settlement recently announced by the Conservative Government". 

Cllr Carrigan said: "We are now in a position where we are resorting to looking down the back of the sofa. [...]

"Instead of providing the fair funding that Stockport needs, the Conservatives have decided to make the situation worse, meaning we need to find many millions more - and that local residents are likely to be burdened with higher council tax."

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