Council warns of budget cuts as consultation held

Kent County Council has begun a public consultation into its budget for 2025/26

Kent County Council has launched a two-month public consultation into plans for its budget in the next financial year.

The council said it would need to make savings of £81m and, with reserves having been used to plug gaps in previous years, warned "further tough choices will need to be considered".

The budget will be set until February, with all members of the Conservative-controlled administration up for re-election in early May.

The council wants to hear which services people would like prioritised, along with ideas for income generation.

In February 2024 Kent County Council voted to put up its share of council tax by 4.9%, the maximum allowed without a referendum.

Cuts were made to areas including arts funding, youth services and community wardens.

The council said it has had to find more than £1bn in savings and efficiencies in the past 15 years.

The authority says it needs to save over £80m next year, on top of savings made in previous years

A KCC statement said: “Significant spending demands and cost increases, largely for the most vulnerable residents in the areas of adult and children’s social care and home to school transport, continue to squeeze the budget.

“Complex needs, population growth and people living longer are all factors that are contributing to the financial pressures of authorities across the UK as well recent high levels of inflation and significant increases in national living wage in recent years adding pressure on budgets."