Shropshire Council Seeks Public Input on Future Savings

Shropshire Council has initiated a public consultation, inviting individuals to submit suggestions for potential savings in the 2025/26 financial year. The council indicated that despite having already implemented savings across its budget, additional reductions remain necessary. Among the proposals is a 4.99% increase in council tax, which the council estimates would equate to an additional £1.65 per week for a typical Band D property. This consultation period is scheduled to conclude on 26 January 2025, and its findings will contribute to formulating the definitive budget proposals, which are slated for a vote by the full council in February. For the 2024/25 financial year, Shropshire Council faces a requirement to save £62.5m, an amount equivalent to £191 per resident. Nevertheless, the council stated that the extent of necessary cuts for the upcoming financial year will remain uncertain until the local government financial settlement is received from the government later in December. Additional proposed modifications, which have been deliberated by all party group leaders within the council, encompass a shift to collecting non-recyclable rubbish every three weeks, investment in energy-efficient street lighting, and a reduction in the operating days of the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. The authority indicated that the complete set of proposals outlined in the consultation is projected to generate approximately £8.5m in savings. However, it also noted that if the financial settlement reallocates funding away from rural authorities, further multi-million pound savings might become necessary. A joint statement from the leaders of the council’s political groups asserted that the authority found itself with “little choice” but to propose these savings. “Whatever the government’s financial settlement later in December is, we are sure that with the ever-growing need for social care and rising costs for services that council tax increases will not cover, more difficult decisions are ahead,” the statement read. It concluded by urging the public: “So please tell us what you think about our approach and these ideas to make more savings.” Previously implemented savings include the introduction of charges for garden waste collection, a reduction in council staff numbers, and adjustments to CCTV monitoring practices. The local authority has identified increased demand for services as a key factor in its financial challenges, specifically noting a growing number of individuals requiring social care, which consumes nearly 80% of its budget.