Budget Consultation 2020-2021

Overview

Delivering your Priorities for Wolverhampton

You are invited to have your say in a public consultation before we set your Council’s budget for 2020-2021. 

In addition, you can attend a public meeting (for details of the meetings see below) where you can learn more about the Council’s budget setting process and find out more about our proposals identified to help meet the 2020-2021 challenge using a combination of budget reductions, more efficient ways of working and plans to generate additional income. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions of senior Councillors and officials. 

You will also be asked about the proposed council tax increase including the Adult Social Care precept. 

This online survey runs until Friday 17 January 2020.  Details of the latest budget report and how the Council is proposing to manage its budget can be found in the 16 October 2019 Cabinet report from http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/financialstrategy.

The results of the consultation will then be considered and reviewed before final decisions are made on the 2020-2021 budget in the Spring.

Why your views matter

The facts

The City of Wolverhampton Council has worked extremely hard to protect essential services and manage its finances amid government funding cuts over the last eight years.  

Over the last eight financial years the Council has identified budget reductions in excess of £220 million due to Government cuts, rising cost pressures and increased need for services. When the 2019-2020 budget was approved by Full Council in March 2019, we said that further budget reduction and income generation proposals totalling £27.3 million for 2020-2021 were required, rising to £40 – 50 million over the medium term to 2023-2024.  This assumes the achievement of budget reduction proposals previously identified amounting to £9.6 million over the period of 2019-2020 to 2023-2024. 

Work has been ongoing to identify ways in which the Council can meet the budget challenge for 2020- 2021.  In October 2019, we stated that the Council had identified budget efficiency proposals but still has a gap of £3.9 million to find in 2020-2021.   

The City of Wolverhampton’s population is rising. In particular, an increase in numbers of both younger (0-19) and older (55-90+) people will mean rising demand for services to support them. As a result of the financial challenges faced, we cannot continue to deliver all the services we provide in the same way or at the same level that we do now.

The 2019-2020 approved budget was shaped after last year’s budget consultation and the input of stakeholders. Your Council’s budget for 2019-2020 reflects these locally identified priorities and continues to make the most vulnerable in our City the priority for services and investment.  It is important that every pound is spent efficiently and effectively.  

Budget Simulator 

We will shortly be launching a new digital tool to enhance public engagement with the ongoing journey to set a balanced budget in each financial year over the medium term.  The new Budget Simulator will give you a chance to set your own draft Council budget in line with your own preferences.  The tool will help inform us as to where you think we can make reductions in spend.  It will also allow you to inform us as to where you think we could invest in the services that are important to you. 

Taking part in this consultation is an important part in you telling us your views.  However, if you feel that you personally or an organisation of which you are part can engage with us and would like to be part of a wider conversation, please contact us either by: 

Email to StrategicFinance@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Post to Strategic Finance, City of Wolverhampton Council, 1st Floor, Civic Centre, St. Peter’s Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH 

Telephone to Customer Services 01902 551155

Thank you for your interest in our 2020-2021 budget consultation.

What happens next

The results of the consultation will be considered and reviewed before final decisions are made on the 2020-2021 budget in the Spring.