Cardiff council outlines budget cuts to save 拢35m

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The council could increase council tax and charges for burials and cremations

Cardiff council has outlined a raft of cuts to public services as it seeks to save more than 拢35m next year.

About 65% of its current budget is spent on schools and social services.

Both areas are under increasing pressure as the city's population grows, the council says.

It says it needs to find 拢36.8m to maintain frontline services at current levels, but received just 拢1.6m in extra funding for next year from the Welsh Government.

The council already aims to make savings of 拢19.4m in 2019/20 and has put forward further suggestions to bridge the rest of the budget gap, which amounts to another 拢15.8m.

They include increasing council tax, with a suggested 4.3% rise, and capping schools' budget growth.

Councillors are also asking residents to consider suggestions for savings and as ideas to generate new income.

They include:

  • Securing a theatre tenant for the New Theatre
  • Increasing charges for burials and cremations
  • Transferring parks assets, like changing rooms, to sports groups
  • Increasing fines for littering in the city from 拢80 to 拢100
  • Looking at ways of reducing subsidies to major events in Cardiff
  • Increasing automation of customer inquiries, saving 拢300,000

Cardiff Councillor Chris Weaver said the council wants residents' help in prioritising the services which matter to them.

"I understand why people ask why we need to raise council tax, but without a rise we would have no choice but to cut services like parks, libraries or waste collections even further," he said.

"Balancing our ambitions for the city and the need to continue to cut budgets is a difficult act."

A consultation will run for six weeks from November 16 and residents can have their say online or pick up a hard copy at libraries and council buildings.