Bradford Council: Proposed cuts to save £175m over five years

Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said the council is "not in a position" to prevent cuts

Bradford Council has proposed a financial plan which would see £175m in savings over five years.

The plans would include "significant reductions" in spending on services and increases in income.

The proposed cuts would seek to recover the council's £120m budget gap after general reserves had become "effectively exhausted".

The council leader said, despite community objections, they were "not in a position" to prevent cuts.

Bradford Council blamed the need to meet big increases in children's social care costs and high levels of inflation for its financial challenges.

It has published its proposed budget for 2024/5, as well as an outline financial plan to "secure its long-term financial sustainability".

'Really difficult decisions'

The budget for the next financial year would include £45m of revenue savings and formed part of a wider plan to save an average of £35m a year, every year for five years.

Cuts would likely hit leisure centres and libraries and see the closure of household waste centres.

The financial plan also included proposals to sell off buildings and land owned by the council to boost its revenue.

Leader of Bradford Council, Susan Hinchcliffe, said: "We have been clear for some time that the council's finances, like many others across the country, are really challenged.

"We now have to take some really difficult decisions, with more to come in the future, if we are to ensure the council's long-term financial sustainability and continue to provide essential services."

She said that comments made through the consultation process showed that people "cared passionately" about their local services.

'Reduce the impact'

"However the financial challenge is so great that we sadly are not in a position to prevent the proposed cuts," she added.

Council officers have been tasked to work with partners to "reduce the impact" the cuts would have on communities.

Bradford Council previously applied for Exceptional Financial Support from the government to present a balanced budget for 2024/25.

The authority asked for £80m for this financial year, as well as £140m for 2024/25.

The budget for 2024/25 would be discussed at a meeting of Bradford Council's Executive on Tuesday, 5 March, and an update of the sports and libraries review has been tabled.

The final budget report would be considered by full council on 7 March.