Manchester City Council

Budget and Council Tax 2009/10

The City Council agreed its budget and Council Tax level for 2009/10 on 4 March 2009, after listening to local people's views on the services we provide and considering the value for money they represent and the draft proposals for the budget.

The Council Tax for Manchester has been increased in 2009/10 by 3%. This is in line with the average increase across the country. After increases in the Fire and Police precepts have been added, the increase in the total Council Tax paid by Manchester residents is 3.5%.

This has been achieved by delivering efficiency savings without reductions to the services we provide and after making provision to spend significant additional monies in key areas such as Children's Services and Adult Care Services. In addition further investment has been identified for key council priorities to improve the visual environment of the city, improve the city's recycling, reduce levels of waste being put into landfill and a range of other activities to help reduce the city's carbon emissions to help combat climate change. Additional monies have also been found to improve the city's library services and to implement the Council's Neighbourhood Strategy that will help focus the Council's services more towards the needs of the individual neighbourhoods.

The budget for the Council for 2009/10 has been approved as part of a Medium Term Financial Plan covering the years 2009/10 to 2011/12. Whilst the Medium Term Financial Plan estimates the Council's financial position across three years, the figures in 2010/11 and 2011/12 are based on a range of assumptions which could be subject to change. The figures for the second two years of the plan are therefore only indicative at this stage and will be subject to review in future budget cycles.

The net cost of providing City Council services in 2009/10 (after taking off income earned by the Council and specific government grants towards individual services) will be £542 million of which £395 million will be provided by Central Government from general taxation and rates paid by businesses. The balance of £147 million will be met from Council Tax (£139 million), dividends received (£5 million) and £3 million from reserves held by the Council. Further details on the budget of the Council for 2009/10 along with indicative figures for the following two years can be found in the attached Medium Term Financial Plan.

If you wish to express any views on the budget of the Council please email: budget.consultation@manchester.gov.uk