How Manchester council will spend your money next year as budget is approved

Mancunians will be hit with a 5 per cent increase in council tax in April. Council house tenants face a 7pc rise.

It comes after Manchester council approved its budget for the next financial year. The town hall was preparing to make £21m of cuts, which still left a £6m shortfall.

Government announcements over council funding made late last year made balancing the books slightly easier.

Many of the cuts - including funding for New Years' Eve fireworks displays and Christmas lights switch-on events - were removed from the final budget. But council-funded bonfire night celebrations across the city are still cancelled.

READ MORE: All Greater Manchester households will pay up to £40 more a year in council tax

The biggest cuts over the next three years will be to the adult social care and children and education services departments, which must save £20m in total.

Along with helping the homeless, these services still account for most of spending in the £736m revenue budget, which was passed on Friday (March 3).

Presenting the proposals in a town hall speech, Labour councillor Rabnawaz Akbar said that setting the budget for next year has been a 'rollercoaster ride'. He said: "This is a budget that reflects Manchester Labour values – a budget which puts Manchester people at its heart.

"It is a responsible budget that protects our residents from the worst impacts of the cost-of-living crisis now. But by prudently using our resources, it takes a longer-term view which allows us to sustain essential services we all rely on, while continuing to move forward as a cleaner, greener, more liveable and fairer city.

"We are Manchester so we have bold ambitions. But we don't forget the importance of getting the basics right and working