Uttlesford District Council facing ‘unprecedented uncertainty’ as it prepares 2025-26 budget
Uttlesford District Council says it is facing “unprecedented uncertainty” as it reveals its first-look budget for 2025-26.
The scaled-back draft for the year ahead has been published, but with the threat of district councils being abolished, devolution and cuts in Government subsidies, the authority has warned it needs to tighten its belt.
It has signalled that council tax and rents will need to rise to reflect “acute business pressures”. It outlines a 2.99% council tax hike for 2025-26, with the band D sum going up by £5.28 to £182.02. Rents look set to go up by 2.7%.
The document states: “This budget is indicative, but more provisional than in previous years due to a new Government with different priorities.
“The paper is deliberately sparse at this stage as while the figures can be modelled, the degree of uncertainty is unprecedented in recent years. Therefore, relatively few commitments are assumed. Further specifics will need therefore to be added to the final budget that will come to councillors for a vote in February 2025.”
The council is now inviting residents and businesses to take a look at the proposed financial plan and have their say on council services and priorities.
Cllr Neil Hargreaves, portfolio holder for finance, said: “2025-26 will be a year of unprecedented uncertainty for local government, especially for shire authorities such as Uttlesford, which are expecting a large reduction of funding due to government shifting resources away towards areas of urban deprivation.
“Councils are also required to budget for the next five years. There is, however, uncertainty over potential devolution of further responsibilities to local government and also the likelihood of local government reorganisation for the first time in 50 years.
“As such, this draft budget is provisional and has been put together as prudently as possible to protect core local services. For 2025-26 it balances incomes with expenditures and a small use of reserves to set provision for any further government announcements.”
Cllr Hargreaves added: “We would welcome the views of our residents and businesses on how much they think we should be spending on the services we provide and what our priorities should be.”
Each year the council has to prepare a budget and decide how much should be allocated on the range of services it provides to the community, such as bin collections, housing, homelessness prevention, licensing, planning and administration of benefits, as well as how much support should be given to community groups, local businesses and other services across the district.
Preparing the budget takes many months and gathering views from residents on how and where the council’s resources should be allocated is an important part of the process.
The consultation is open to all and will help the council as it looks to set a balanced budget for 2025-26. The easiest way to complete it is online at www.uttlesford.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2025-26.
For residents who do not have access to the internet, paper copies are available by calling 01799 510510. The consultation closes on January 12.
All the comments received will be considered as part of the final budget proposals, which will be debated and voted on by council members in February. The new budget will take effect from April 1, 2025.
