Walsall Council closes £11.05million gap in next year’s budget
Walsall Council has successfully managed to plug a shortfall of £11.05m in next year’s draft budget. The draft budget for 2025/26 has been balanced as a result of several funding allocations for Walsall Council as well as a number of savings.
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All but one of the proposed cost saving measures have been included in the draft budget, including a 4.99 percent increase in council tax.
The only proposal which has been removed is further rewilding, which would have saved the authority £50,000.
Portfolio holder for finance, councillor Mark Statham, provided the latest update on the revenue and capital budgets at the overview scrutiny committee on February 7.
Updates included a ‘favourable’ provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, including a £9.84m Recovery Grant from central government.
The final budget proposals will be adjusted following final confirmation of the Local Government Settlement, and the levies from the Environment Agency, Police and Fire Service.
As the budget currently stands, no further savings proposals are required to balance the books.
The final budget will be presented to cabinet next week on Wednesday (February 12). It will then be brought before full council on February 26 for it to be considered and approved.
