Residents and businesses are being invited to give their views on Leicestershire County Council’s initial budget proposals.
Launched today (Wednesday), the month-long consultation offers people the chance to shape plans by completing a short questionnaire.
The four-year blueprint pinpoints opportunities to drive down costs and earmarks £131m extra for social care – 20 per cent more than previous forecasts - to manage rising demand for support for vulnerable people.
The proposals come as this surge continues to push up costs and amid significant uncertainty around Government funding.
Over the last 12 months, demand for children needing costly residential provision has grown by 28 per cent.
Next year’s proposals show the extra income that would be raised by a 2.99 per cent Council Tax rise but the final level won’t be agreed until February, when the full extent of growth pressures across social care and level of Government funding will be known.
It also sets out savings of £45m and a £456m capital pot, to pay for improving roads, providing social care accommodation, new school places needed to support new housing and more.
Escalating costs and soaring demand are creating financial pressure, making managing the budget extremely tough.
But we’re taking a tight grip and working hard to identify how we can manage costs differently, generate extra income and ensure services are value for money for our Tax Payers – this is essential for longer term viability.
Our pioneering, deep-dive efficiency review is already generating practical opportunities to save money and I’m confident it will deliver much more next year.
The consultation is an opportunity to help shape the budget and influence services which impact you and your family.
Person:Councillor Harrison Fowler, cabinet member for resources
Early ideas set out to deliver greater service efficiency include reducing agency staff, stepping up early help to prevent residents reaching a crisis point and expanding a specialist team supporting people to regain independence.
They are part of a comprehensive review of the council’s £658m yearly spend, aiming to close the council’s forecast £106m budget gap by 2030.
Early next year, it’s expected to generate more detailed savings options and greater clarity is also expected on Government funding.
Proposals at a glance:
- A budget gap of over £100m by 2029/30
- Around £131m more to support vulnerable people – in response to huge increase in demand
- Next year’s proposals show the extra income that would be raised by a 2.99 per cent Council Tax rise - but the final level won’t be agreed until February, when there should be clarity on Government funding.
- £63m to cover National Living Wage and inflation increases
- £45m of savings – plus early opportunities identified in our efficiency review
- A £456m four-year capital pot – to pay for improving roads, providing social care accommodation and new school places needed to support new housing.
We will set our budget at a meeting of the full council on 18 February, 2026.
Our yearly budget totals £658m or £1.3bn including all grants and income that relate to specific services. The authority is one of the biggest organisations in Leicestershire, spending around £20m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
District councils, police, fire and parish and town councils all make up portions of residents’ total Council Tax bills.