Council Spending
The County Council has agreed the budget for 2013/14. The Council Tax Leaflet (pdf, 2.1Mb) provides summary information.
If unable to view in this format the summary information is also provided below
Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)
The aim of the MTFS is to provide information on the County Council's planned revenue and captial expenditure and its financing in detail.
For further details see:
Medium Term Financial Strategy
Budget Consultation
Over the last two years, we sought your views on the savings the county council has to make, on where savings can be made and what we should do about council tax rates.
For further details see:
Budget Consultation 2013/14
Account Statements
The Account Statements set out the published statement of accounts of the Authority year on year. The accounts have been produced in line with the various regulations that govern local authority accounting.
For further details see
Statement of Accounts
Links to other authorities' council tax information:
The Council’s Budget
Government Funding
The Government continues to cut expenditure across the public sector in order to reduce government borrowing. Over the next four years we expect a significant reduction in Government funding of around 30%. In 2013/14 this reduction is 11%. This follows a 22% reduction over 2011/12 and 2012/13. This is an extremely tough funding position.
Council Tax
Our plans are based on no increase in Council Tax in 2013/14, followed by 1.5% increases in the following three years. The freeze in 2013/14 is supported by a Government grant, to be paid in 2013/14 and 2014/15.
Spending Pressures
We are facing large increases in expenditure because of the need to provide care to the increasing number numbers of older and other vulnerable people. Disposing of waste in more environmentally ways is also more costly. Extra resources have also been allocated to caring for vulnerable children and to transport budgets. Spending pressures including inflation are £54m (15%) over the next four years.
Savings
The reduction in Government funding and unavoidable spending pressures means savings and increased charges of £79m are required over the next four years.
The County Council has proposals in place to generate £49m in savings as set out below:
Efficiency savings £38m
Service reductions £8m
Increased charges £3m
The remaining £30m of savings will be required in 2015/16 and 2016/17. Savings proposals will be developed following further public consultation over the next year.
Efficiency savings of £38m include reductions in management and administration, more effective purchasing of goods and services and changes to the way services operate.
The proposed service reductions of £8m over four years are in the following areas:
- Children and Young People’s Services - £2.5m
- Adults and Communities - £0.3m
- Environment and Transport - £4.1m
- Other Services - £1.1m
Examples of savings include:
- Restructuring of Children and Young People’s Services
- Review of Libraries, Heritage and Arts
- Reduced highways maintenance
- Switching off or dimming street lights after local consultation
- Reduction in bus subsidies for uneconomic bus routes and review of transport policies including home to school.
Budget
Leicestershire County Council spends around £500m a year (excluding schools) providing local services - Table of County Council spending (pdf, 28kb)
Spending (excluding schools and other services funded by direct Government grants and other income) is planned to be £356m next year.
Further detailed information on the budget is available on the County Council meeting agenda:
Additional note
Changes in Funding (pdf, 33kb) should be read alongside the budget.
Page Last Updated: 5 March 2013
