Canterbury City Council starts budget consultation

Public budget consultation on the city council’s draft budget for 2019/20 began  this week.

Like all local authorities, the city council is managing its way through a period of significant change to its budget.

Between now and 2023/24, it must find new, ongoing savings of £4.2 million, which is equivalent to 26 per cent of its net budget.

The majority of savings proposed for 2019/20 do not have any impact on the services the council provides. They are largely planned to come from internal reviews and efficiency savings. The cost of some services is proposed to rise.

An increase of 2.98 per cent to its share of the council tax is also proposed. This would add £6.12 a year (12 pence a week) to a band D property.

Council Leader Cllr Simon Cook said: “It is going to become more and more difficult to find the savings we need in future without affecting the level of service we provide to our residents.

“Some very challenging decisions will be coming our way over the next few years in order to be able to balance the books.

“All the budget documents are on our website and I would encourage local people to look at the proposals for 2019/20 and let us know what they think.”

The consultation runs until 4 January 2019 and all the information is available here.

Views can be submitted via the online form or in writing to Budget consultation, Canterbury City Council, Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1YW or by email to [email protected].

All comments received will be considered by councillors who will set the final budget and council tax at a Full Council meeting on Thursday 14 February.

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