Early action taken to ensure a balanced budget in Tameside

TAMESIDE Council is taking decisive action to ensure it achieves a balanced budget at the end of the financial year.

The Council’s annual budget of £681million delivers essential services, of which £339million is spent on social care with Adults and Children’s services.

Like many local authorities, Tameside is facing challenges driven by rising demand, inflationary costs and specific service pressures.

These have resulted in a forecast overspend of £17million for this financial year, but the Council has already actioned savings of £3.45million and is finalising £6.5million of further savings to reduce this figure to around £7million out of a total budget of £681million. The Council maintains reserves to support the budget, but many are earmarked for specific purposes, so while in a good position compared to others, dipping into our general reserves wants to be avoided.

Measures now being taken to balance the budget include:

• Targeted expenditure controls across all directorates, with a focus on reducing nonessential expenditure.
• Enhanced financial monitoring and analytical review to ensure the earliest identification of risks and opportunities.
• Service-led recovery plans to address overspends and improve cost-effectiveness.
• Engagement with partners and stakeholders to explore collaborative solutions to maximise opportunities.
• Continued lobbying for fairer funding to reflect the increasing demand and complexity of local service delivery.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Finance and Resources, Councillor Hugh Roderick said: “It has been a difficult decade for local government financially, and we know how much that’s impacted our communities. We’re determined to turn things around and our focus is on achieving financial stability and delivering transformative change to how the Council works so we can deliver better services for our residents.

“This isn’t just about balancing the books; it’s about reshaping how we work to build a stronger, more sustainable future. There will be tough decisions ahead, but by acting now, we can set the council on the right path for years to come.”

The Council’s total budget of £681million comes from £275million in grants, £124million from Council Tax, £119million from Business Rates, £48million from fees and charges, and £115million from other income. The main spending areas are: £180million on Adults Services, including residential and nursing care and care at home; £159million on Children and Families, including social care for vulnerable children and fostering; £91million on schools; £40million on housing benefit; £101million on Housing, Environment and Estates, £4million on Strategic Growth; £34milllion on levies, such as to GMWDA for waste disposal; and £19million on Population Health.