It's becoming increasingly impossible to make ends meet

COUNCIL LEADER IN PLEA FOR GOVERNMENT HELP AS BUDGET GAP INCREASES

- JOSEPH TIMAN

THE government must put 'urgent measures' in place to save Manchester council from falling off a cliff edge as it faces an ever-increasing gap in its budget, the city's council leader says.

Coun Bev Craig has written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ahead of the autumn statement later this month with a plea to protect vital services by providing 'sufficient, sustainable and strategic' funding for local government.

The town hall is forecasting a financial shortfall of more than £46m next year, which will mean more savings will be required while cash reserves will have to be spent to help balance the books. This budget gap is expected to grow every year, reaching £105m in 2026/27.

Even with a council tax increase of 5 percent in April, additional savings of £2.5m - on top of the £25m of savings already planned and nearly £17m of reserves used, a £1.6m gap remains in the next financial year alone.