Council approves new budget with cuts and tax rise

A council has narrowly passed its budget, which includes cuts to services and a 4.99% council tax rise.

Peterborough City Council is looking to make £23m in savings through cuts including a reduction in Peterborough Museum's opening times, to the cleaning schedule in the Central Park toilets and cutting the highways maintenance budget by 15%.

Members voted for the budget and the medium-term financial strategy up to 2028 at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

A decision on the future of the city's libraries has been paused with the council's Labour deputy leader Mohammed Jamil telling the BBC the authority was "working with groups to find a solution" on how to keep them going.

The agreed council tax increase equates to a rise of £1.59 a week for a Band D property.

The budget also reduces the amount of community leadership funding received by each councillor, to be used to support schemes in their wards, from £3,000 to £1,000.

The council hopes to save about £300,000 a year through several staffing reductions and changes across corporate services.

It also proposed to increase cremation and burial fees by 10%.

Following public outcry, plans to mothball the city's lido were reversed, meaning the facility on Bishop's Road will reopen in the spring, with the goal of attracting additional income.

Other budget proposals, including closing loss-making cafes at the Lido, Flag Fen, Vivacity Premier Fitness, and the museum and art gallery, have been paused.

The council said in 2025/26 it would be spending more money on care for the elderly and vulnerable and supporting children and families.

It said growth and regeneration of the city would also remain a priority, to attract better-paid jobs for residents and put more money into the local economy.

The budget was passed with 21 votes in favour, 18 against and 11 abstentions.

Labour's Dennis Jones, leader of the council, said: "We adapted our draft budget following feedback from the public, and we adapted our new updated corporate strategy following feedback during the Shaping Our City consultation.

"We will continue to keep listening, and engaging with residents, as we strive to achieve the priorities set out in our updated corporate strategy."

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