Westmorland and Furness Council is now in its second year of delivering many essential services for residents, businesses and communities – from waste collection and recycling to social care, education, roads, planning and so much more.
Following Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in 2023, the council has worked hard to ensure it continued to deliver services and provide essential support to those in need.
Becoming a new unitary council has also given the council the opportunity to think and do things differently, and challenge and maximise its efficiency and effectiveness. It has remained focussed on putting communities at the heart of everything it does, providing excellent services to residents and businesses, and delivering on its vision to make Westmorland and Furness “a great place to live, work and thrive”.
Despite challenging financial pressures this year, the council has made a commitment to avoid cuts to services and maintain its investments in change and transformation; laying the ground to make real improvement to services for residents and communities.
The council has also made a positive difference investing an additional £10m in revenue and an additional £20m in capital projects and schemes in 2024/25 that directly benefit many of its residents and communities.
The council must also work towards a financially sustainable future and to do this must transform – so an ability to invest in future change and transformation will continue to be essential.
After careful consideration, given the current economic climate and the uncertainty of future funding from Government, Westmorland and Furness Council is therefore now seeking resident’s views on a proposal to increase the council’s share of Council Tax by 2.99% for next year and implement the Government’s 2% increase for the Adult Social Care precept; this takes the total increase to 4.99%.
If approved, this will help the council achieve a balanced budget, which is a legal requirement.
The council has today launched a consultation on its budget proposals which will run until 17 January 2025. The full consultation document can be viewed at www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/budget.
Feedback from the public consultation will be considered by Cabinet and then go to Full Council on 27 February 2025 with recommendations, presented alongside the Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).
Cllr Andrew Jarvis, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said:
“As everyone knows it is still a very tough financial climate out there and many people and families remain badly affected by the cost of living crisis.
“Since being created, we have worked hard to ensure we deliver a balanced budget as well as creating the opportunity for investment. In year one we received exceptional financial support from Government due to LGR and in year two we invested one off earmarked reserves in order to stabilise and ensure the basic building blocks are in place, and determine the Westmorland and Furness Council priorities, ambition and ways of working.
“Change and transformation is a necessity for all councils and as a new unitary council with a strong community focus, we are challenging existing approaches and determining our way forward.
“We know that to be ready for the future we will continue to change and transform and we know we can’t do this alone. We must continue to work together with our partners and communities so that together we can all make a real difference, safeguarding essential services and driving forward positive change at a much quicker pace.
“Overall, considering the national picture and ongoing uncertainty still of the funding envelope for local government for 2025/26, our budget is in very reasonable shape. We aren’t cutting services and we will retain our focus on change and transformation to give real improvements in services for our residents and communities.
“It is fair to say though that we are unlikely to receive all of the funding from Government that we really need to deliver on our ambition as a council. By February 2025, we will need to agree a balanced budget, which is a legal requirement.
“Our income levels and budget choices affect residents, the amount they pay and the services that they receive. That is why I am encouraging everyone, residents and partners alike, to have their say on this year’s budget consultation – so that we can shape our future together.”