We are now entering the last fewweeks of engagement and consultation on Bradford Council's Executive's budget saving proposals for 2025-26. Have
your say on Bradford Council Executive's budget saving proposals for 2025-26
On 3 December, Bradford Council's Executive committee discussed plans, in addition to those already discussed on 5 November, aimed at saving money and ensuring the Council’s financial stability. The plans, if approved, would save a further £9.717m from the
Council's 2025-26 budget.
The new plans include:
- Sport and Leisure - £0.497m – Making changes across the service and closing Baildon Recreational Centre
- Street Scene - £0.24m - Reviewing rents for commercial land and lease agreements and stopping some grounds maintenance
- Fees and charges - £2m – Increasing by six percent to cover inflation and other rising costs
- Enabling Efficiencies with Digital Technology - £0.68m – Implementing technology to reduce duplication, speed processes, and improve customer service
- Review of the Capital Programme - £2.6m – Removing some projects, reducing borrowing on others, reviewing project funding and allowing extra planning time to reduce the cost of borrowing.
On 5 November, the committee reviewed a report with 47 savings proposals, totalling £33.84m for the 2025-26 budget. Most of these proposals aim to increase efficiency, reduce demand, or boost income, rather than cutting services. Key proposals include:
- Saving £1.6m by improving customer services with voice automation and other digital technologies.
- Generating £400k by increasing garden waste charges in 2025-26.
- Saving £138k on street lighting by further dimming LED lights.
- Raising £580k by adding more enforcement sites to reduce dangerous driving and ease congestion.
- Implementing the new H-FAST service to help people leave the hospital sooner with lower social care needs.
The Council considers all these savings to be necessary to address its financial challenges. The Council is also working with the Bradford Children Families Trust to reduce the rising costs of children’s social care. The Trust identified £16.2m in savings
and has developed proposals to save an additional £600k to improve outcomes for children.
The Council is making good progress towards the £48.6m savings it agreed in March, as part of the five-year improvement plan. However, the 2023-24 budget was overspent by £80m, leading to a structural budget gap of £120m. For 2024-25, the estimated budget
deficit is £140m, and the Council has an agreement in principle for further government support.
Bradford Council’s Executive Committee invites you to provide feedback on all these savings proposals to help the Council make its final budget decisions in March 2025.
The engagement and consultation closes on the 19 January 2025.
Have your say on the
Proposed Financial Plan and Budget proposals | Bradford Council