Manchester Council leader issues last-ditch plea to government

The government must put 'urgent measures' in place to save Manchester council from falling off a cliff edge as it faces an ever-increasing gap in its budget, the city's council leader says. Council leader Bev Craig has written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ahead of the autumn statement later this month with a plea to protect vital services by providing 'sufficient, sustainable and strategic' funding for local government.

The town hall is forecasting a financial shortfall of more than £46m next year which will mean more savings will be required while cash reserves will have to be spent to help balance the books. This budget gap is expected to grow every year, reaching £105m in 2026/27.

Even with a council tax increase of 5 per cent in April, additional savings of £2.5m - on top of the £25m of savings already planned - and nearly £17m of reserves used, a £1.6m gap remains in the next financial year alone. The council is now looking at increasing prices in bereavement services which includes burials, cremation and memorials as well as raising an extra £200,000 from advertising income.

READ MORE: Schools in Greater Manchester will get £22m less than they were told, Labour says, after miscalculation

READ MORE: Thousands at risk of homelessness as government races to clear asylum backlog

A new council report reveals that all savings proposals which were previously identified but not taken forward this year will also be reviewed. This includes plans to close Manchester Art Gallery for an extra day every week and charging to replace recycling bins.

It comes as councils across the country face a £4bn shortfall in their finances by March 2025, according to the Local Government Association, with some local authorities such as