'Help us balance the books'

RESIDENTS CAN HAVE THEIR SAY ON COUNCIL BUDGET

- By OWEN YOUNGER

NEWCASTLE City Council has called on local residents in the city to shape how it uses its budget, giving communities greater power.

Inflation, rising demand for social care, and years of government cuts have left local authorities with difficult decisions to make.

The council has revealed that since 2010, it has had to save more than £400 million, with tens of millions more needing to be saved in the years to come.

Modest increases in government funding in this time have not kept up with the pace of inflation, utility prices and the demand for services.

Also, supporting the most vulnerable residents across the area of Social Care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is expected to increase by £30 million due to increased costs and demand for services.

The council is set to consult on their budget in the winter, having already made clear that it needs to save an estimated £15 million in the next financial year alone, due to an assumed increase in council tax.