South Tyneside Council announces budget following financial strain

South Tyneside Council has agreed its budget for 2018/19.

Plans have been put in place to meet budget demands, however pressures in adult and children’s social care have continued to place further strain on the council’s supposedly already stretched budget.

But despite the council’s financial pressures, it continues to deliver its services for South Tyneside.

Since 2010, local government has been continually required to make significant cuts. Over the past eight years, the council has already delivered £145m of efficiencies with a further £11m to find in 2018/19 and more in future years.

Research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies has confirmed that South Tyneside is the third hardest hit council financially in the country for the period 2010 to 2016.

It now has 54 per cent less to spend on helping the people of South Tyneside. This works out as £746 less for each household; £402 worse off than the national average.

This year’s budget includes increased income generation through new and existing services, delivering greater value for money on external contracts, reducing the council’s carbon footprint and working more in partnership with the community and the voluntary sector.

In his budget speech, councillor Ed Malcolm, lead member for innovation and resources, renewed the council’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults in the borough.

Cllr Ed said: “The people of South Tyneside have been really supportive and come forward to work with us to protect some of our important services such as community facilities and branch libraries.

“Without the support of the public these facilities would have been under threat of closure and now have the opportunity to go from strength to strength.

“It is only by working together in partnership that we are able to reduce the negative impact that these unprecedented government cuts are having on our communities.

“There is no doubt that South Tyneside has been dealt an unfair hand but as a council we continue to do all we can to making a positive difference to people’s lives and to ensure that our Borough is a great place to live, invest and bring up families.”

As with last year, and like many other councils across the country, South Tyneside Council is asking residents to pay a little more in their council tax in 2018/19 to help protect services.

The proposed increase is 4.95 per cent which is made up of a 2.95 per cent council tax increase and a two per cent adult social care levy – this equates to around 91p per week for Band A households, into which the majority of households fall.

The council is making every pound count and continues to attract external funding for major projects.