Budget update - hear from Chief Executive Mark Wynn
As you may already be aware, the council faces the challenge of saving at least £100 million over the next three years. To ensure everyone’s voice was heard in shaping how we set the council’s budget, we launched a public consultation in November, inviting staff, residents, businesses and community groups to share their views.
The consultation has now closed, and both the survey and the budget simulator tool are no longer available.
Importantly, as proposals go through the process with members, findings from the budget consultation will be shared, reflecting the feedback and priorities provided by staff, residents, businesses and community groups.
Draft budget proposals ahead of scrutiny
You can now view the draft budget proposal on the council website. The proposal outlines planned investments in key areas such as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Adult Services and Highways. Following the recent government financial settlement, Lancashire will receive additional funding, which is better than expected. The council is in a stable financial position, but ongoing pressures and risks require continued vigilance and transformation efforts.
As part of the draft proposals, we have focused on efficiency savings that reduce the impact on residents, services and our staff.
You will already know that a major efficiency review is already underway, looking at how the council can save money and improve services. The review covers areas like procurement, property, digital transformation and income generation. You have also contributed valuable ideas through our savings suggestion scheme. Our aim is to reduce costs without cutting frontline services wherever possible.
However, inevitably, there will always be a need to consider some savings through reductions. I want to reassure you that, wherever possible, we will seek to achieve these savings through proactive workforce planning using measures such as through natural turnover and redeployment.
We recognise that budget-setting can be unsettling. Managers are encouraged to keep teams informed and staff are urged, in the first instance, to speak to their manager or contact the Wellbeing Team if they have concerns.
Please be assured that the proposal is still in draft form, and no final decisions have been made. This is a key part of our plan to become a future-ready council, bringing together different ways to make better use of public money. We will engage staff and support those affected by change whilst ensuring equality and fairness throughout the process.
We are committed to keeping you informed and will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
Mark