Questions raised over budget plans

MIDDLESBROUGH

- By DANIEL HODGSON

Council's budget plans for next year have been challenged by opposition councillors.Queries included how the south of the town would benefit, as well as asking about potential council tax freezes

There are plans for a 2% council tax rise in the coming year, which will be ring-fenced for adult social care.

The provisional settlement for local government finance was confirmed on December 17, and welcomed by Middlesbrough's two Labour MPs, with confirmation from Middlesbrough Council that the budget plans, announced earlier in December, would be deliverable with the allocated funding.

The council's Labour Executive voted for the draft budget to go out to public consultation the following day, concluding on January 11, 2026. An in-person consultation event will take place on January 5, 2026.

The actual budget should be approved by the full council on February 18, 2026.

Executive member for finance, Labour Councillor Nicky Walker, confirmed that council reserves should be virtually double what they were at the start of 2025/26 by the end of 2029/30, meaning reserves would equal more than £40m. Council reserves are forecast to be just over £25m at the end of the current financial year.