Vale of Glamorgan Council faces budget shortfall of £6.43m – “We must make tough decisions”

Vale of Glamorgan Council will be looking at saving more money across its services as it braces for another funding shortfall next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The local authority has announced that its funding gap for the next financial year is forecast to be £6.43m. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year, the council has had to bridge a funding gap of £9.7m, which saw it cut back on many services when the budget was agreed in March. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Vale of Glamorgan Council, Lis Burnett, said: “The council remains in an extremely difficult financial position. That means we must make tough decisions as we look to best allocate the funding available. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“What remains an absolute priority is maintaining the services relied upon by our most vulnerable residents.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Savings of £7.4m and the careful use of reserves will help address the funding gap in 2023-24, but the factors behind it continue to affect longer-term financial planning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A report presented to the council’s cabinet members showed that the council is facing cost pressures of £17.02m, with £10.59m anticipated from the Welsh Government, council tax and reserve funds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Savings proposals across all areas of council responsibility will be considered in October and November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All proposals will be subject to public participation before any decisions are made, according to the council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Burnett added: “We will make sure our children, elderly and those with additional needs are properly looked after and residents will form an important part of the decision-making process.”
Like other local authorities across the UK, Vale of Glamorgan Council has been affected by rising energy prices, spiralling inflation and growing demands on its services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some of the budget decision made by the council this year included increasing council tax by 4.9%, increasing the cost of bulky waste disposal fees and hygiene caddies, increasing allotment rents and increasing the cost of cafe-style licenses for outdoor seating. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​