Northumberland County Council aims to save £65m after producing draft budget

Northumberland County Council has pledged a considered budget as it looks to save £65m over the next four years.

In February 2018, councillors are to consider proposed efficiencies of £8.2m for the coming year, £21.1m in 2019 to 2020, then rising to £65.1m over 2018 to 2022.

Council leader, Peter Jackson, said: “We have bold and ambitious plans for the future, but we need balance our books. By doing this, we’ll be much better placed to help support a thriving local economy and deliver value for money for the communities we serve.

“This year has very much been about putting things right, protecting essential services, and plugging historic cost pressures through increased demand in services.

“Since this administration took over last May, we’ve been working hard to bring forward achievable budget proposals that deliver savings and have tangible benefits.”

Jackson went on to say that the company’s capital programme is the biggest ever delivered in the county, and is said to invest £580m in physical infrastructure such as new schools and highway improvements, and new Northumberland homes.

He added: “This capital programme of investment is strengthened further by securing the North of Tyne Devolution Deal, bringing in £600m over 30 years.

“Combined with new powers, the deal is expected to generate £1.1bn for the local economy, create 10,000 new jobs and leverage more than £2.1bn in private-sector investment.”

Like many local authorities across the UK, this decision has been taken in line with the government’s assumptions around spending power and the resulting Revenue Support Grant contribution.