Milton Keynes Council Budget Consultation
http://douglasmccall.mycouncillor.org.uk/2016/09/25/more-council-budget-cuts-ahead/budget-cuts-ahead-sign/ MK Council has to make a further £22M of cuts next Financial Year due to Conservative Government cuts.
Milton Keynes Council's draft budget is now open for public consultation which will run until 31 January before a budget is finalised in February.
Full details and a helpful summary of the draft budget can be found at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/budget.
The Council currently gets most of its money from central government in grants, not from the Council Tax. The Conservative Government is continuing with its manifesto commitment to slash funding to public services.
The Council has already had to cut £111m from its budget over the last 5 years, but they need to cut another £22m next year, and a further £60m by 2020, and this at a time when demand for MK Council services has risen sharply, especially for vulnerable people.
Compared to five years ago they are now:
- helping almost 25% more children in care
- assisting five times as many people who need temporary housing due to the massive increase in homelessness
- managing triple the amount of adult safeguarding issues
The Council spends about two thirds of their overall budget on adult and children's care, and costs have grown by £18m.
So, the Council has the huge financial challenge of increasing demand for services for vulnerable people and large and continuous cuts in funding. So, the Council will be forced by these government cuts to reduce significantly or even stop some council services. That is why it is considering devolving some services to parish councils.
You can respond to the consultation via the Council's website or email budget@milton-keynes.gov.uk.