Halton Borough Council sets out its approach to deliver long-term financial resilience

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board will this week be asked to approve a clear approach to achieve a sustainable budget position, that ensures the Council continues to deliver for the community of Halton.

Executive Board will consider a number of reports that set out the current financial position, acknowledging the challenges ahead – while laying out plans to tackle the forecast deficit.

Like local authorities up and down the country, Halton Borough Council’s budget has come under considerable pressure as a result of reduced funding, rising costs, an unsettled global landscape and continuing growth in demands for services like adult’s and children’s social care.

While many of these factors are largely outside the control of the Council, they present significant challenges and so the Council has set out in clear terms what needs to be done in response.

Talking about the current position, Council Leader, Cllr Mike Wharton said:

“I know people will be concerned to hear about the difficult financial position the Council is experiencing.

“However, it is important that we are open with our community about the scale of the challenges we face and that people understand the causes of the current pressures.

Cllr Mark Dennett, Executive Board Member for Corporate Services added “I want to reassure our community that we are taking responsible steps to manage these challenges.

“Our priority remains delivering services that the most vulnerable people in our community rely on and doing this in a way that is affordable and ensures the financial resilience of the Council for the long-term.”

The Council is implementing a series of additional measures to strengthen its financial position, including:

  • Immediate action to identify areas for efficiencies and cost control
  • Accelerating the pace and scale of the Council’s transformational activity to deliver greater reductions, sooner
  • Reviewing services to ensure resources are targeted where they are needed most

In concluding Cllr Wharton added:

“This is not an easy message to deliver, but being open is important. We are confident that taking these decisive steps, will make us stronger, more efficient, and ready for the future.

“Our commitment to serving the public of Halton remains steadfast.”

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board agenda included items covering current Council spending, the Medium Term Financial Forecast and plans to provide options for the Council to achieve a sustainable budget position by the year 2030/31.