The budget consultation. 2017/18 to 2019/20

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1 The budget consultation 2017/18 to 2019/20

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3 Foreword Our vision for Sunderland is that it will be a welcoming, internationally recognised city where people have the opportunity to fulfil their aspirations for a healthy, safe and prosperous future. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we need to do to achieve that and keeps us focused, supporting those people in greatest need as a fundamental part of our contribution to the All Together Sunderland approach to the city s challenges. However, at the same time as demand for our services is continuing to rise the resources available to meet those needs are reducing. Over the last six years, we ve had to make unprecedented savings, to bridge the financial gap caused by Government cuts and cost pressures. This consultation outlines the budget challenge we continue to face, but also highlights areas where we ve radically rethought the way we work in order to minimise the impact of cuts on the city s residents, communities, partners and businesses. We have to approve our budget for 2017/18 in March To help inform that decision we d like to understand which services are important to you, and how you and your communities can help with the challenge. Please get involved and complete our survey. We want your views to help us make the right choices for Sunderland. Thank you Councillor Paul Watson Leader of Sunderland City Council Page 1

4 Our budget challenge 20% comes from fees, charges and other income 13% comes from Council Tax 2016/2017 Total Income 655m 60% comes from Government Grants 7% comes from Business Rates We need to save at least 74m by 2019/20. This means the council will have less money to spend on local priorities and services. We have seen unprecedented cuts and cost pressures over the last six years, with 250m having to be saved. Our current gross budget for 2016/17 is 655m. Only 13 pence in every pound we spend comes from council tax, the majority of our funding comes from central government and this has been severely cut since The rest of our budget comes from rates paid by local businesses, as well as other income including non-government grants, and fees and charges. Page 2

5 How the budget is spent Back office and democracy Children s Services including Schools 2016/2017 Council budget 655m Responsive Services and Customer Care Health, Housing and Adult Services City Services Public Health, Wellness and Culture We deliver hundreds of services to over 277,000 residents in over 127,000 households. We must focus on those services we need to provide and make sure we are as efficient as possible in doing so. There are many services that you know we provide directly or fund others to provide such as libraries and leisure services, maintaining roads and footpaths, as well as emptying bins. But, you may not be aware that we also fund lifechanging support for older people, people with disabilities and children in care as well as many, many other services. Our budget includes 372m we receive from central government for specific purposes - such as schools and housing benefit. We cannot influence reductions in these areas. Page 3

6 Costs up, funding down Costs up Funding down funding gap 74m We provide hundreds of services, we will spend 655m in 2016/17 Per household to spend 5,198 in 2016/ less by 2019/20 The impact of Government austerity measures has been particularly hard-hitting due to increased demands on council services, with more people living longer and more investment needed to support vulnerable children. We also have a statutory duty to comply with government policy changes such as the living wage and pensions. This is the right thing to do but it puts more cost pressures on us. We spent an average of 5,198 for each household in Sunderland in 2016/17. From April 2017 onwards we will have much less money to fund services. We will have 590 less to spend for every household by At least 41m of the 74m that needs to be saved by 2019/20 needs to be saved for 2017/18. As we can t spend more than we receive, we have no option but to radically rethink the way we work and this will inevitably impact on services. Page 4

7 What changes have we already made? Back office and running cost savings Savings made 250m Grass cutting reduced Litter and street cleaning reduced Reduced staffing levels Reviewed support packages for all vulnerable adults Working in partnership Investment in extra care to avoid other costs Smarter procurement Improved technology Managing our money Maximising income We have worked very hard to minimise the impacts on residents, communities and businesses from government cuts over the last six years by delivering savings in a planned and thoughtful way. We have cut our back office functions, with plans to further cut to a bare minimum. Our workforce has significantly reduced and there will be further reductions. In 2016 Responsive Local Services reduced its staffing budget by over a third. These services include grass cutting, empyting litter bins and street cleaning. We know you have felt the impact. We had no choice but to reduce the services because we can t spend money we don t have. We must continue to review and reduce the frequency and standards of some services at the same time as ensuring that the people in the greatest need are supported as much as possible. We must also continue to focus on creating the conditions to influence and shape the regeneration of our city so we can attract more investment, generating more and better jobs and more wealth. Our regeneration partnership with Siglion is giving us the opportunity to progress regeneration plans across the city, including the former Vaux site, Seaburn and Chapel Garth. Roker and Seaburn seafronts have seen extensive regeneration, Keel Square and the city centre is increasingly vibrant, the New Wear Crossing will open up regeneration and development sites along the River Wear and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park will help bring investment in to Sunderland. Page 5

8 Can you do more? Go online Be a good neighbour Take litter home Be a foster carer What YOU can do Volunteer Recycle Shop locally Bag and bin the poo Stop smoking Walk, run, cycle Page 6

9 We have less money than before, but Sunderland can still be a great place. Here are some of the things Sunderland people do. Can you do more? Go online - When you need to contact the council, go to It s usually faster than calling, and the service is just as good. Take litter home - When people drop litter, it makes Sunderland ugly, and costs the council more to clear it up. Volunteer - Local organisations need volunteers to help their community. Visit or call Voluntary and Community Action Sunderland on for more information. Recycle - Sort out your home. Put your card, bottles, tins, household plastic and metal packaging in the blue bin; and put your paper in the inner black caddy. Be a foster carer - Sunderland s foster carers change the lives of vulnerable children for the better. Could this be you? Find out more about becoming a foster carer by visiting or calling our Fostering Service on Be a good neighbour - Some of your neighbours may feel isolated, especially if they re older or not well. You could call in for a chat, or to help them with something. When you do these things, you make Sunderland a better place. Thank you! Shop locally - When you pay a local company, not a big chain or website, you are helping Sunderland people have a job. Stop smoking - People feel better when they don t smoke. Is there someone you can support to stop smoking? Visit or call for advice on stopping smoking. Walk, run, cycle - You ll feel better and will help the NHS and the council. If you want help to be more active visit or contact Bag and bin the poo - 9 out of 10 dog owners clean up after their dog. Bag and bin the poo. If the bin is full take it home with you. Page 7

10 Have your say We would like the views of residents, communities, partners and businesses. Please go online and fill in our survey. The survey closes on Tuesday 22 November. It helps us save money if you complete the survey online. If you need a paper copy of the survey please contact us on or consultation@sunderland.gov.uk Paper copies of the survey should be returned either by post to the address below, or to any library, Customer Service Centre or Pallion Health Centre: Budget consultation, Room 3.102, Civic Centre, Burdon Road, Sunderland SR2 7DN At the end of the survey there is an opportunity to register for alerts to council consultations; if you register we ll send you a link to our detailed budget consultation proposals for 2017/18 to 2019/20 which we ll be publishing at the end of November. Page 8

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