Braintree District Council’s latest budget report reinforces the significant financial challenges faced by the council despite an improved position for 2025-26.
This is set to be discussed at its Corporate Scrutiny Committee next week on 20 November.
A combination of higher-than-expected take up of its garden waste subscription service and additional income from investments has resulted in the projected budget shortfall reducing to £731,000 for next year. There are still some significant elements of the budget that need to be clarified before a final position is reached, including detail of next year’s funding from central government.
Whilst the reduction has been welcomed and puts the council in a better financial position, significant budget pressures and challenges affecting Braintree District Council, the same as councils across the country, have not gone away, with it projecting almost a £9 million budget gap over the next four years.
A high degree of uncertainty caused by global events and increased levels of demand for services like housing are some of the key pressures the council faces.
Proposals include additional investment into improving and enhancing the appearance and cleanliness of the district, as well extra funds to manage the council’s responsibilities and risks over landscaped areas, including its tree management.
The Councillor Community Grant scheme is proposed to continue, supporting a wide range of community projects, alongside funding for parish councils for its Street Cleansing Partnership and Braintree District Museum Trust.
Braintree District Council operates an annual budget of £19.6million, delivering over 100 services for more than 150,000 residents, from waste and recycling services to planning, housing and benefits services.
The council has already delivered significant savings in the past 10 years through improved efficiency, investing in technology, utilising opportunities for additional income, and by making some difficult choices. The council’s Fit for the Future programme will drive transformational change and help achieve long-term financial sustainability, while maintaining service delivery and achieving its corporate priorities.
Councillor Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council, said: “We continue to be a well-managed, efficient, and financially stable council – a lot of hard work and planning has gone into ensuring we keep our finances on track, but it has not been without many difficult decisions having to be made. We are of course not complacent as like all councils across the country, we continue to face great financial challenges. Ultimately, we need long-term funding guarantees from government to improve financial planning and the ability to make longer-term decisions for which we continue to lobby.”
Councillor Kevin Bowers, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Performance at Braintree District Council, said: “We had to make some really tough decisions last year to set a balanced budget – this has put us in a better position but there is still more we need to do. While we expect to balance next year’s budget, we need to continue to have tight control over our financial management with further uncertainty ahead and a total shortfall of almost £9 million forecast across the four years of our medium-term financial plans. Our transformation programme includes a deep dive into reviewing our services, alongside working with partners on opportunities for shared services and other partnerships. We are also reviewing our property assets to make sure we get the best out of them. This is all so we can address our financial challenge and ensure we can continue to deliver the best services for our residents and communities that are fit for the future.”
The committee provides opportunity for all members to express their views on the proposals before they are formally considered by Cabinet. The final budget, including the proposed council tax rate, will be agreed in February 2025.
The current budget gap over the next four years is projected at £8.899million (up to 2028/2029). A breakdown of the current budget gap per year: 2025/26 - £731,000, 2026-27 - £2.309million, 2027-28 - £2.803million and 2028-29 - £3.056million.
The report can be viewed here.
People can watch all of these meetings on the council’s YouTube channel and see regular updates on the council’s budget position on its website.