Council tax to rise 4.99% as £7.5m savings on way

Council tax in Stoke-on-Trent is set to go up by 4.99% under budget stabilisation plans proposed by the city council.

The Labour-run council said it was a "difficult decision" but the increase, the maximum available, was "critical" after its spending power was reduced by 25%.

The proposed budget, announced on Monday, includes £1.1m of savings requiring public consultation, including plans to dim street lights.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader, warned the financial outlook remained "extremely challenging" despite work to improve its position.

Savings announced today include:

• Dimming of street lights where it was "practical and safe to do so," saving £100k per year
• Price rises for gym sessions and swimming at leisure centres, saving £297k per year
• Accelerating the Extra Care Housing scheme, which enables older people to live in their own homes with support, saving £220k per year
• A new pet cemetery at Carmountside, which would save £3,000 per year
• Partnering with local charities to improve recycling rates, totalling £20k per year

Sustained falls in the number of children in care, following years of increases, were also forecast to generate significant savings in coming years, the council added.

Concerns have been raised by residents over the decision to switch off street lights to save money in other areas of the West Midlands.

The council has not yet stated where the lights would be dimmed or how many.

A further £6.4m of cuts and efficiencies which do not affect public-facing services have also been proposed, bringing the total budget reductions to £7.5m.

The council said the budget plans and assumed increase in council tax by 4.99%, which includes the previous adult social care precept of 2%, would allow it to protect core services.

It will now consult on the proposals before bringing them back before councillors later in the year.

The budget proposals also include £16.8m of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) - an emergency loan from the government to help councils struggling with central funding cuts.

The council said the proposed budget follows years of government austerity cuts which meant there was £96.8m less funding to invest in services in 2024/25 compared to 2010/11, equating to a 25.1% reduction in real terms.

The BBC has asked the government to respond.

Councillor Alastair Watson, cabinet member for financial sustainability and corporate resources said: "We are bringing financial stability and clear strategic direction to this council.

"This budget is a step along that path."

He said a decade of austerity meant there was almost £100m less to invest in services than 15 years ago and it remained reliant on the emergency government loan to balance its budget.

"What is clear is that we are in a much better place than we were this time last year – not just financially, but in terms of the service improvements that the residents of this city need and deserve," he added.

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