Salford council taxpayers are facing a rise of nearly five per cent in the proposed budget for the next financial year.
The proposal released by Salford City Council today (January 21) will see the authority spend more than £392 million on Salford residents.
This means an increase of 2.99% on council tax, plus a two per cent increase on the precept for adult social care to help meet rising demand.
The rise in council tax will mean that for a Band A property, the city council’s element of the council tax would be £1,368.51, an increase of £1.25 per week.
There are 63,614 Band A homes in the city and Bands A and B properties make up 70 per cent of all homes in Salford.
The council said the rise in council tax would aim to provide an investment into services, with a focus on protecting vulnerable adults and children.
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This budget’s focus on children’s services, adults and health demonstrates our commitment to meeting the needs of Salford residents, one of the most important functions of local government.
“Adults and children’s services play a key role in transforming health and improving outcomes for people, a focus reflected in our priorities of tackling poverty and inequality, healthy lives and quality care for all and a UNICEF-accredited Child Friendly City.
“Affordable, warm, stable and safe housing is also a cornerstone of good health and wellbeing so should be available to everyone.”
The decision made by the council, will see them commit 64 per cent of the budget (£251 million) for children’s services, adult social services and health.
The council’s cabinet has released proposals to set a balanced budget for 2025/26, without impacting on services or jobs.
These proposals are now published ahead of a cabinet meeting on 28 January.
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— Salford City Council (@SalfordCouncil) January 21, 2025
The investment will include the services that the authority has a statutory responsibility to provide, including supporting around 560 children in care; along with providing long-term care to 2,400 vulnerable adults, and short-term care to a further 400 vulnerable adults through residential, nursing and home care.
Mayor Dennett said: “Both the housing and cost-of-living crises remain at the forefront of our priorities so we will continue to support those who are at risk of homelessness and struggling financially.
“We welcome the new government’s support, and their recovery grant award of £9.7 million recognises that we have a greater need than many other councils.”
The proposed budget will also see a £9.7 million recovery grant from the government – one of the highest grants of its kind being given to local authorities.
The grant has been provided with the new government recognising Salford as being the 18th most deprived area in the country.
The proposal from the council’s cabinet will see an additional £2 million invested in school transport for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEND).
As well as the support towards SEND, the budget will also provide an additional £572,000 increase in funding to support short breaks.
The government has announced that the council will receive £6.5 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, with a further £2.7 million for homelessness prevention.
The budget proposals will be discussed at a cabinet meeting next Tuesday January 28, before the final budget is put before a full council meeting on Wednesday February 26.
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