Council grapples with budget gap

LOCAL AUTHORITY PLEDGES TO SEEK RESIDENTS' VIEWS

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH City Council is facing a “serious” financial problem as it looks to plug a £2.3 million budget gap.

The authority said it is faced with “huge pressures” beyond its control but stressed it has already cut the gap by more £8 million.

Politicians from the ruling Labour group said difficult decisions will have to be made but will ask citizens for their views first. Council chiefs said they will continue to work hard to deliver priority services while battling to balance the budget.

A report on the draft 2024/25 budget, to be considered by the council’s cabinet on November 13, said a projected £11.2m budget gap, caused by increasing demand for services and rising costs, has now been reduced to £2.3m, but councillors stressed the gap needs to be filled before a balanced budget can be set in February.

Cllr Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for finance, said: “Our financial situation is a serious one. Like other councils across the country, we are facing huge pressures caused largely by national factors beyond our control.