Council faces 'radical action' to save £28m in budget

A council is facing cuts of an "unprecedented magnitude" after announcing it needs to save more than £28m.

Slough Borough Council's cabinet says it has to take "radical action" after publishing a report on a draft budget.

The authority has revealed potential measures including a £60,000 reduction to library services and raising £100,000 from parking control and enforcement of new speed limits.

The budget, published on Monday, confirms the council has so far found £10.78m worth of savings, but has to find an additional £17.35m before January.

The report says that as Slough is "one of the smallest unitary councils in England" it does not get enough funding to survive without having to take "radical action".

The council's cabinet is now set to approve £10m in cuts and savings to the budget for 2025/26 during a meeting on Monday 18 November.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked for more information on all the proposed measures.

The draft budget has predicted funding based on an assumption council tax will increase by up to 4.99%, which is lower than the previous two years.

Commissioners sent in by the government to oversee the authority after it effectively went bankrupt in 2021 said even more cuts would be "essential" for the council to "live within its means".

The draft budget still leaves the council £17m short of what it says it expects to spend next year.

Commissioners said the shortfall in the current draft budget would mean more borrowing and relying on shrinking pots of reserve funding used to cover unexpected spending.

The commissioners said: “There remains a significant challenge ahead. The council’s projected budget deficit remains substantial, assumes additional borrowing and the level of usable reserves available as a cushion is reducing.”

Another raft of cuts is set to be presented to council leaders in January 2025, with the final budget being voted on in February.

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