BRIDGEND Council has approved a public consultation for its draft budget for the 2025-26 financial year with a potential council tax increase of 4.5%.
The plans, which were released in January, 2025, show how the authority will look to set a balanced budget for the coming year, despite what it said were a number of “existing and new” cost pressures, alongside limited council resources.
The annual revenue budget covers the day-to-day running costs of the council including staff salaries, building maintenance, pensions, and operational costs.
It was agreed to go out to public consultation at a monthly meting held on January 14, with the consultation designed for cabinet members to gain feedback from residents as well as scrutiny from opposition.
It could see a proposed total gross revenue budget of £530m and a net budget of £383m, which includes pay and price pressures of £10.6m, service budget pressures of £14.4m and budget reductions of £9m.
If eventually approved, it could see more than £150m given to the education, early years and young people directorate, along with £115 million to social services and £33m to communities.
However, the current draft budget also includes plans for a potential council tax increase of 4.5% as well as saving measures and reductions such as the “cessation” of the meals-at-home service, as well as further reviews of home to school transport, and a reduction in counselling services.
Others plans could also see efficiency savings of 1% made against school delegated budgets which a report said had the potential to result in “some teacher and other staff redundancies”, along with the withdrawal of the music allocation funding to schools.
Following the consultation Bridgend’s cabinet will now meet to discuss scrutiny and consultation feedback on the budget proposals on 18 February 2025, with final budget proposals presented to council on 26 February for final discussion and agreement.