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Salford City Council Unveils Budget to Protect Local Services and Invest in Priorities

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Salford City Council has unveiled a budget to protect local services and invest in key priorities, including a large-scale Skills and Work programme, providing £1.5 million per annum by 2023/24 to connect residents with economic growth opportunities. The budget also factors in the Real Living Wage for care workers and investments in new social housing and the Derive programme. Mayor Paul Dennett stated that the council's focus is on training and jobs to deliver a better future for residents and young people with better access to opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The budget includes a £1.5 million investment in the Skills and Work programme to connect Salford residents with economic growth opportunities by 2023/24.
  • The council has agreed to fund the Real Living Wage for all care workers through the integrated care fund arrangements.
  • The budget allocates £0.7 million to the Derive programme to build new social housing at truly affordable rents.
  • Plans have been agreed to refurbish the Buile Hill Mansion as a community and wedding venue.
  • The council is proposing a 3.99% increase in council tax, equivalent to an 87p increase per week for Band A households.
  • The budget pressures faced by the council include an additional £1.1 million from national insurance changes and £1.4 million from changes to the national minimum wage.
  • The council is pushing for the Government to increase funding for councils in England to mitigate the impacts of the cost of living crisis.
  • The council has allocated £0.75 million for crisis support to over 6,000 Salford residents through the 'Salford Assist' programme.

Statistics:

  • £1.5 million: Annual investment in the Skills and Work programme by 2023/24.
  • 87p: Weekly increase in council tax for Band A households as a result of the proposed 3.99% increase.
  • £1.1 million: Additional cost to the council from national insurance changes.
  • £1.4 million: Additional cost to the council from changes to the national minimum wage.
  • 3.4 million: Additional cost to the council to meet pay inflation.
  • 0.4 million: Additional cost to the council in employer pension contributions.
  • 1.3 million: Additional cost to the council in price inflation.

Sources:

  • Salford City Council
  • UK Government

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