The Council’s draft budget proposals were published on Monday.  The purpose of the draft budget is to provide an indication of the progress we’re making towards balancing the Council’s revenue budget for 2025/26.

Councils are legally obliged to set a balanced budget each year, and in preparation we forecast what increased cost pressures we face alongside the growth in support we provide to our needs led budgets and frontline services.  We also assess the revenue we’re likely to receive, which comes in the form of council tax and the retention of some business rates.

As part of the process we estimate the difference between the funding we need to support services and the funding we expect to receive.  The difference between the two is known as the gross budget gap.  For next year we project our funding shortfall to be £25.6m.

Using the £25.6m figure as a base, we then consider ways to bridge that gap.  This is where we consider the council tax rate, use of reserves, and other policies we may have to put in place to increase our revenue and reduce spending.

Once we have completed that exercise we publish a draft set of proposals for consideration.  It is always important that we get the balance right between protecting the services we provide as a council and the fantastic workforce providing them, using a prudent amount of reserves, making savings that avoid impacting on our services as best we can, and considering the ways we can support our revenue situation.

At draft budget stage we are still left with a gap of £9.8m that we must bridge before February 2025, so work continues over the next few months whilst our current proposals receive consideration.  A lot can happen between now and February, particularly with the UK Government’s Budget taking place at the end of this month.

Over £300m has been stripped from Trafford Council’s budget since 2010. We need fairer funding as a matter of urgency and a fundamental review of the way local government is financed. I have heard encouraging indications that ministers recognise the pressure local councils have been under since 2010, which is a change in attitude since before the General Election.

Whilst I’m on the subject of the budget, one of the things that often gets overlooked, but is very important to us, is what is known as our capital budget. The capital budget focuses on long term investment- examples of which include investment into our leisure centres, town centre regeneration and active travel routes.   Much of our capital budget is funded by grants to support specific projects and as a council I’m proud of the work our officers do to secure significant external grant funding.  But one important thing to note is that this grant funding cannot be switched into other areas or used to support our day-to-day budget.

In other news this week, I’ve enjoyed some really engaging events.  On Tuesday morning Cllr Mike Cordingley and I joined colleagues from heritage, culture and planning on a visit to the Barton Upon Irwell Conservation Area.  This area is set away from much of the rest of the Borough but it is steeped in history.  It’s the home of the world famous Barton Swing Bridges, it is the location of the grave of Marshall Stevens- a key figure in the development of both the Manchester Ship Canal and Trafford Park Industrial Estate.  The area is also home to All Saints Church, a grade one listed building and in recent years home to Franciscan Friars.  One of the Friars, Father Justin, gave us a tour of the church and a glimpse into its fascinating history.

All Saints was designed by Edward Pugin for the De Trafford family and their influence can be seen throughout the building.  Given the clear link the De Trafford family name has to our Borough, I found their influence on the church particularly fascinating.  The photo I’m using at the top of the update this week provides examples of how elements of the family’s coat of arms are woven into features in the church- from stained glass to floor tiles.  These same features are identifiable in not just Trafford Borough’s coat of arms but can be seen around our town hall in Stretford.

Trafford has a very rich heritage and there’s much more we can do to showcase it.

On Wednesday I had the great pleasure of attending a Voice of BME Trafford event in Old Trafford to celebrate Black History Month.  We were celebrating change makers, and it was wonderful to hear from so many inspiring people.  It was also a privilege to be asked to speak at the event.

On Friday it was good to host children from Victoria Park Junior School Council at the Town Hall.  The Mayor and I enjoyed giving the children a tour of the Town Hall, including the council chamber, mayor’s parlour and my office.  It was also interesting to hear what they thought about our town hall and how local democracy works.  Whenever we host school children at the town hall I always hope at least a few of them will return one day as future councillors.

Outside of this I attended a meeting of council on Wednesday, chaired a meeting of the Greater Manchester Green City Region Partnership on Thursday, had a great catch up with Rev Ian Rutherford and attended meetings regarding health and Old Trafford Regeneration.  I also did two media interviews and have left it until the last sentence to reference the exciting news that as of this week we can now recycle plastic pots, tubs and trays in the black bin at home!