Leader defends £40m cuts and council tax rise

NEWCASTLE'S Labour leader has defended plans for a council tax rise and £40m of cuts over the next three years.

- By DANIEL HOLLAND

Newcastle City Council is planning to slash £3.9m from its spending in 2026/27, under proposals expected to result in 75 job losses as the authority seeks to “streamline” services.

Civic Centre bosses have already made £400m-worth of cuts since 2010, with the city’s finances under severe strain amid escalating costs and increasing demand for social care and special needs services.

Council leader Karen Kilgour told a scrutiny panel on Tuesday that not pursuing a council tax rise of 4.99% from this April, the maximum allowed without having to hold a referendum, would “likely result in cuts to frontline service provision”.