Public consultation launches on Leeds City Council’s initial budget plans for 2020/21

Public consultation is now underway to gather views on Leeds City Council’s initial budget proposals for the next financial year. During the three-week consultation period, the council is encouraging anyone who works or lives in the city to have their say on how it should continue to financially support the services it provides.

The consultation is available in the form of an online survey which should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The survey can be found at www.leeds.gov.uk/budgetconsultation.

The budget proposal for 2020/21 shows how the council aims to deliver a further £23.24m of savings over the next financial year, continuing on the financial pressures experienced by the council in the past decade. Since 2010, the core funding Leeds City Council receives from central government has been reduced by £266m, representing a 59 per cent cut.

One of the key things being considered as part of this initial budget is a proposed 3.99 per cent increase to council tax to help reduce the impact of government funding cuts on frontline services. Two per cent of this council tax increase would be used to help fund adult social care services, providing support for vulnerable older people in Leeds.

For a further breakdown of the changes being proposed as part of these initial budget plans, which were discussed yesterday by the council’s executive board, please see the earlier press release. Additionally, key points from the proposed budget are highlighted throughout the online survey.

The views gathered as part of this consultation on proposed future spending, service priorities for the financial year and more will help to ensure that the final budget is in the best interest of the city’s residents and communities. Councillors will see the results of the consultation before a final decision is reached in February when the proposed budget is debated at full council.

The public consultation will be open until Tuesday 28 January 2020. Click here to read the full report of what is being proposed for the 2020/21 budget.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Josh Cawood

Graduate communications and marketing assistant

josh.cawood@leeds.gov.uk

0113 378 6007