Derby City Council has launched a public consultation about its budget proposals for 2023-2024.

Anyone living, working or studying in Derby is urged to have their say as the Council has to make unprecedented savings in a very short space of time this year, due to economic factors beyond its control.

Like Councils across the country, Derby is facing the challenge of setting a balanced budget in the face of a ‘perfect storm’ of rising costs, abnormally high inflation rates and increasing demand.

Through a mixture of additional Government funding for Social Care, management of demand, savings and an increase in Council Tax, the Council is proposing a balanced budget, with the focus on protecting the city’s most vulnerable people.

Residents are likely to see a reduction in some services, changes in the way others are delivered, and an increase in fees and charges in some areas. The Council is seeking to mitigate the impact by working with its partners across the city.

The Council is also forecasting the need to find further savings by 2025/26 without local government funding reforms. 

To fund services next year, the proposals include increasing Council Tax by the maximum allowed without a separate referendum – 4.99%, with 2% of this ringfenced for adult social care. This would mean a £78.74 a year increase for a household living in a Band D property. Most properties in Derby fall under Band A which would mean an increase of £52.50 a year, or £1.01 a week, for residents.

Details of the proposals can be viewed with the consultation on the Let's Talk Derby website. The consultation can be completed online from now until Thursday 26 January 2023. Copies in alternative formats are available by emailing letstalkderby@derby.gov.uk or contacting us.

Alongside the main budget consultation is a separate consultation on some specific proposals affecting people’s services. These are:

  • Reviewing the Council’s Early Help offer to focus on the most vulnerable children and families in need
  • Reviewing care packages for people living in the community to focus on the most critical needs of the most vulnerable people
  • Reducing the capacity of the Occupational Therapy service by removing current vacancies

This is open for comment until Friday 10 February 2023 and can be found with the main budget consultation.

Councillor Jonathan Smale, Cabinet Member for Finance, Digital and Culture, said:

I would urge the public to have their say now, more than ever, because we’ve faced some difficult choices and they will see changes to our services as a result.

We remain ambitious for Derby, even if we have to change the way we approach this, and we’re committed to working with our partners across the city to mitigate the impacts of the challenges we’re facing.

We’re not alone in this situation. Councils across our region and the country are also affected by this ‘perfect storm’ of unforeseen economic factors. This will only change when the Government addresses how it funds local government. This is something we’ve been talking to them about and will continue to do so.