Newcastle faces tax hikes and £21m cuts. Council approves plan amid hope for better government relations and service improvements.
These plans include twenty-one million pounds in spending cuts. Social care services may face cuts. Forty jobs at the council could disappear. Since 2010, the council cut £381 million already.
Councils in England may lack eight billion pounds by 2028. The Local Government Association warned about this and they want government action to address the problem. Newcastle Labour councillors see a change coming, hoping for a new relationship with the government.
Councilor Paul Frew said government grants are unfair. He still expects sixty-two point seven million in savings. He thinks the council can better serve people and wants to make services affordable. They will try to improve things.
The council hopes to save eight point three million from adult care. They want people more independent to avoid care homes. Additionally reducing crisis support will be “time limited.” They plan to cut three point three million from children’s homes.
Councilor Frew says adult social care will increase, potentially by fourteen point five million. Children’s care may increase twelve million too. Lib Dem leader Colin Ferguson hopes government “neglect” stops and wonders if Labour will start new “neglect.”
A 4.99% council tax increase starts in April. Band A homes pay £67.04 more per year, Band D pays £100.55, and Band H pays £201.10, the highest increase. Garden waste collection fees rise two pounds next year, then one pound annually. Rent for Citizens Advice at City Library could double.
The council plans to remove forty jobs, mainly vacant positions. The Saturday closing time at the City Library changes to 2 PM. They will also save four point six million through “efficiency.” The council plans to tackle anti-social behavior, maintain the Bedeburn respite facility, cut grass more often, and have workers clean off chewing gum.