Southampton City Council critics call approved budget 'shameful'

The council plans to spend £595m next year on local services, excluding housing.

A city council's budget, described as the "most shameful" ever presented by critics, has been approved.

Southampton City Council's budget for 2024/25 was balanced thanks to £121m government support.

There is opposition to a council tax increase of 4.99%, the maximum amount allowed without a referendum which will see Band D homes pay an extra £86,22.

Local authority leader, Lorna Fielker, said: "The budget has been set based on robustness."

The Labour councillor said her administration: "Seeks to always be honest with residents about what is happening in the council.

"We don't want to hide behind anything."

Ms Fielker admitted the position is "challenging" but praised the commitment of her administration to make the budget proposal work.

The council plans to spend £595m next year on local services, excluding housing.

When combined with the spending within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the capital programme (both general fund and housing), the total council spending is planned at £837m.

'A sad day indeed'

Leader of the Conservatives, councillor Daniel Fitzhenry said: "This situation we find ourselves in was not a necessity; it was not even an option.

"This scenario is of your own making."

He added: "It is a very shameful place to be as a council."

Fellow Conservative councillor Peter Baillie agreed.

He said: "It is a sad day indeed for the people of Southampton, and it is a day that could and should be avoided.

"Today's financial mess is not just happening. It has taken years to get to this point, and the size is now huge.

"We had to go to the government to ask to borrow money. The idea we are told is to use as little of this borrowing as possible, but it's hard to see how much of it would not be used very quickly."

He added that paying the exceptional financial support back to the government over 20 years will cost the council £9m a year, putting it under "significant budgetary pressure."

The budget was carried out without the support of the Green Party and the Conservative Party.

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