Liverpool City Council is gearing up to allocate an extra £15.3 million towards enhancing frontline services for residents in the upcoming year. The Council’s ‘core spending power,’ which is the Government’s gauge of local authorities’ financial capabilities, has surged by 10.3 percent in cash terms, largely due to Government funding and a proposed 4.99 percent increase in Council Tax.
Moreover, the Council is poised to benefit from a £20 million Government ‘recovery grant’ aimed at assisting areas facing higher levels of deprivation and need. The newly proposed budget encompasses an additional £1.5 million dedicated to neighborhood services to combat issues like flytipping, street cleansing, and blight. The primary goal is to build upon the progress made in reducing complaints about street cleansing and weeding by 25 percent over the past year.
Furthermore, there is a provision of £500k for the School Streets program to enhance road safety around primary schools. An additional £52 million has been earmarked to address the mounting demand for adult and children’s social care, temporary housing, and home-to-school transport. This funding is crucial as these services constitute 63 percent of the Council’s total expenditure.
In addition to the financial boost, the Council’s financial resilience has been reinforced by an improvement program that has augmented the total amount of Council Tax collected in-year by 13 percent, reduced arrears by £18 million, and slashed Business Rates debt by £5.3 million. The Benefit Maximisation Team has also played a vital role by raising income for vulnerable households by £7,643,529. Council leaders emphasized the positive impact of the new government’s support, acknowledging the certainty it provides to councils and the increased funding towards cities like Liverpool. Their prudent financial management strategies are geared towards ensuring long-term sustainability and delivering essential services efficiently
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