In her February column, Councillor Nadine Peatfield thanks those who took part in the Council's budget consultation.
A lot has happened since my last column…Christmas, New Year and what felt like the longest January on record! We’ve also received clarification on what the Local Government financial settlement looks like for 2025/26 which has allowed us to update our initial budget proposals.
I’m really pleased that the Government has listened to the needs of councils and are investing in much-needed reform. Their generous financial settlement, which has increased our core spending power by £22.6 million for the coming year is above average, along with continued investment into social care, a new prevention grant of £2 million to support children’s social care reform, and a recovery grant of £6.7 million, allows us to reverse some of the proposed cuts and continue to invest into essential services which matter most to our residents.
A big thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say and contribute to our 2025/26 budget consultation. This feedback is invaluable in understanding what you think about where our limited funds should go. We’ve been able to use your comments to enhance our proposals for a responsible budget and use this extra money to best support those who need our help. These proposals will go to full Council on 26 February.
We’ve heard our residents’ frustrations and taken them on board, prioritising tidier streets and green spaces, and working to create a safer, more vibrant city centre.
Maintaining public spaces and ensuring that waste is collected is important to our residents and it’s important to us. This is why we have allocated the funds for additional waste minimisation staff, a new depot to complement what we already have at Stores Road, and introduced bulky waste vouchers for those who need support to dispose of large items. I’m looking forward to being able to share more information about these plans as they progress.
Nationally there is huge demand for services which support vulnerable adults and children, and Derby is no different. This additional income will drastically help us to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and we’re proposing to invest more into these services, as well as appoint two new SEND officers to help manage demand for these already overstretched services.
As the Cabinet Member who oversees our city centre regeneration and cultural offer, I’m particularly pleased that we’re also able to allocate £250,000 into our Cultural Recovery Fund to support our cultural partners who are still struggling in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with rising costs. I’m delighted that we’re also proposing to reinstate a role dedicated to supporting the city centre and coordinating safety, vibrancy and partnership work. Having a dedicated Neighbourhood Manager who can focus solely on our city centre will be invaluable in supporting its recovery.
We’ve also set aside an additional £100,000 to support the soon to be reopened Market Hall with extra costs which will be incurred in its first year of opening and give the team the resources they need to ensure that it opens and runs smoothly. Despite the challenges we face, this administration remains committed to supporting our cultural offer and ambitious for Derby’s future and I think these additions to our MTFP demonstrate this.
Crucially, we’ve also been able to increase the amount we put back into our reserves. We’ve been very clear about our intention to create a stable and responsible budget and further replenishing our reserves now puts us on a more stable footing for the future.
When it comes to Council Tax, increasing the amount you pay is something we never take lightly. However, it is assumed within the funding settlement that local authorities will increase their Council Tax rates in line with previous years, which for us in Derby is 4.99%. I know that to some people, even a small increase in their monthly outgoings can make a huge difference, which is why we’re proposing to add an additional £200,000 to the Council Tax Hardship Fund to support households who are experiencing extreme financial hardship. There’s more information on this on the Council’s website.
Adding this additional funding into our budget allows us to reset and build greater resilience for our city’s future. There’s no question that it has been a tough few months for councils up and down the country fighting to maintain essential services while balancing the books and while we still have a lot of work to do, I’m optimistic that we’re moving in the right direction.