Protect, care and invest to create a better borough.
The council’s budget is important because it sets out how much money we have available and where we intend to spend it as we protect, care and invest to create a better borough.
The financial challenge
Years of austerity, recovery from the pandemic and the cost of living crisis mean that making ends meet has never been more challenging for local authorities.
Thanks to sound financial management in Telford and Wrekin, we already have in place a number of income streams that help us continue to deliver vital front-line services, and our budget proposals for 2024/25 recommend further investment in these areas.
Our proposals also include a number of carefully considered savings, which will help us to balance the books.
However, over the last few years we have seen:
- huge increases in both the demand and costs associated with delivering vital social care services (which account for three quarters of the council’s revenue spend); and
- a dramatic withdrawal in government funding for local authorities.
These factors mean that, for 2024/25, we have taken the difficult decision to recommend increasing general council tax for the first time in two years to help cover the funding gap.
Key points in our budget
Every year, we formally review and set our budget plans. Our most recent budget covers the period 2024/2025 to 2027/2028.
View summaries of the key points in our budget below.
What happens next?
4 January 2024
Cabinet meeting to consider our budget proposals.
5 January 2024 to 4 February 2024
A public four week consultation will take place on our proposed budget.
9, 18 and 23 January 2024
Business and Finance Scrutiny Committee will scrutinise our budget proposals.
15 February 2024
Cabinet meeting to agree final recommendations to Full Council.
29 February 2024
Final decisions on our budget and council tax for 2024 - 2025 will be made at the Full Council meeting.
Consultation
As a council firmly on the side of our residents, we have to plan carefully to ensure there is enough money to pay for vital local services and invest in the things that matter to you.
We’re also making a number of savings to ensure we balance the books. These have been carefully considered to minimise any negative impact as much as possible.
We are keen to hear your feedback on these proposals, so would encourage you to share their thoughts via the public consultation which is running from 5 January 2024 to 4 February 2024.
To share your feedback, please email yourviewsmatter@telford.gov.uk.
This consultation period has now ended.