Manchester Council insists it is not implementing cuts, focusing instead on efficiency savings to balance its budget amid financial challenges
Manchester: So, the council’s bosses are saying they’re not planning a ‘cuts budget’ after all. Instead, they’re looking to save about £18 million through what they call ‘efficiency savings.’
But here’s the kicker: they’ve overspent by £20 million this year on things like adult social care and homelessness services. That’s a big deal because they need to balance their budget, which is a legal requirement.
Even with a better funding package from the new Labour government, they still need to make those savings. Executive councillor Rabnawaz Akbar was pretty clear in a recent meeting, saying this isn’t about cuts.
He emphasized that most of the savings would come from generating income and improving efficiency, claiming they’ve protected frontline services. But not everyone is buying it.
Liberal Democrat Richard Kilpatrick shot back, saying it’s still cuts, no matter how you spin it. He argued that you can’t tell the people of Manchester that efficiency savings aren’t cuts.
Akbar defended the budget, saying it’s not just a change in wording. He pointed out that 95 percent of the proposed savings are indeed from efficiency and income generation.
But the council’s financial troubles are real, mainly due to rising costs in children’s services and adult social care. The number of people needing care has gone up, and that’s putting a strain on their budget.
Plus, there’s more demand for basic services like waste collection and street cleaning. On top of that, rising national insurance and minimum wage costs are adding even more pressure on the council’s finances.
