26th November 2025
What the Statement Does / Key Decisions & Numbers
- The Council set its 2025/26 budget and Council Tax on 27 February 2025. Contentful+2Public Notice Portal+2
- Council Tax for 2025/26 will increase by 4.99% in total: this comprises a 2.99% “general” increase + a 2.00% “Adult Social Care Precept”. Contentful+1
- On a Band-D property, this works out as roughly +£59.12 per year (general), +£39.55 per year (social care), plus the usual added amounts for Mayoral / policing/fire precepts. Contentful
- The total net expenditure budget for 2025/26 is set at £355.978 million. Contentful
- The budget package attempts to bridge a funding gap of £26.438 million (the “savings requirement” at start of year). Contentful
- The “change proposals” to help balance the budget — totalling around £8.937 million — include:
- Productivity & efficiency savings, including better use of technology, streamlined service delivery. Contentful
- Increased income via sales, fees and charges (e.g. waste collection, bin permits, possible service charges). Contentful
- Service-delivery changes (e.g. in adult social care — more prevention and independent living support, “fairer charging” for some services), and changes to waste collection frequency / charging (confirming what you already know about garden-waste charges). Contentful+1
- The council plans to retain a “general fund balance” (reserves) of at least £15.183 million to safeguard against unforeseen costs / financial shocks. Contentful
- The Council emphasises that while the funding settlement from central government gives “core spending power increase” of 6.5% overall — for their type of council — once you factor in inflation, demand pressures, and rising costs (wages, energy, social care demand), this “net increase” is much smaller. They argue it basically lets them “stand still” rather than provide any headroom for expansion or new services. Contentful+2stockport.gov.uk+2
⚠️ What the Statement Reveals: Pressures, Challenges & Trade-offs
🔹 Tight Margins & Heavy Reliance on Council Tax
The Council acknowledges that even with the 4.99% increase, the additional money only just covers existing service spending — once cost pressures (inflation, wage increases, demand) are accounted for. Contentful+2stockport.gov.uk+2
This means there is little buffer for any unexpected demand or cost rises — meaning future “savings proposals” or service reductions are likely. Contentful
Also, a significant portion of the Council’s funding comes from Council Tax (including the Adult Social Care precept) — which is a regressive form of funding (richer and poorer households pay the same if they are in the same band), meaning the burden falls more heavily on lower and middle income households. The statement itself recognises this tension. Contentful+1
🔹 Rising Demand — Especially in Social Care & Children’s Services
The statement outlines that demographic pressures, increased need (children’s social care placements; more people needing adult social care; SEN / EHCP costs; homelessness; cost-of-living crisis) mean rising costs that central funding does not meet. Contentful+1
So, demand-led services (social care, support for vulnerable people, housing, prevention services) will remain under pressure, and savings or efficiency drives may risk reducing the quality or accessibility of services.
🔹 Dependence on “Savings Proposals” & Service Changes — Some Potentially Unpopular
To balance the budget, the Council is relying on savings, increased fees/charges, efficiency, and re-working how services are delivered (e.g. using technology in social care, charging more for certain services, changing waste collection) — these are often the most controversial or felt locally. Contentful+2Public Notice Portal+2
As you’ve seen with garden-waste charges, such changes can provoke public pushback, especially among lower-income households or those who use services heavily. The statement’s reliance on these proposals indicates a risk of further such “pain points.”
🔹 Uncertain Long-Term Outlook
The Council highlights that funding for local government remains uncertain: the government has given only a one-year settlement again (2025/26), and reforms promised for 2026/27 may change funding distribution. Contentful+1
They argue the added funding in the current settlement doesn’t match rising costs and demand — for example, they say their “core spending power” increase (6.5%) is one of the lowest among metropolitan councils, and after cost pressures the benefit is small. Contentful+1
Thus — without structural changes (in funding from central government, or fundamental efficiency gains) — the Council may face further savings requirements in future years (2026/27 and beyond). Contentful
🎯 What It Means for Residents (Like People in Marple / Ashton-under-Lyne, etc.)
- You (as a resident) will pay more in Council Tax in 2025/26 — part of that is explicitly to support adult social care. That higher bill helps the Council maintain basic services (children’s services, adult/social care, waste, public health, etc.).
- Some services may be reorganised, digitalised, or subject to increased fees/charges, to save costs — for example waste-collection changes, care-service charging, maybe reduced non-statutory services or slower expansion of “nice-to-have” projects.
- The Council is signalling that it’s trying to strike a balance: protecting essential services (social care, support for the vulnerable) while being realistic about resources. But the level of pressure on public budgets and the trade-offs involved mean that some services may feel strained, or you may see more charges/less frequent services.
- The future is uncertain: if demand rises (social care, homelessness, SEN, cost-of-living related support), or if costs go up unexpectedly (inflation, energy, wages), the Council may need further tough decisions.
✅ My Assessment: Balanced But Precarious Strategy
The budget statement from Jonathan Davies presents a realistic, if cautious, approach. The Council is trying to walk a tightrope: keep pushing its “big ambitions” (investment, regeneration, support for vulnerable people, climate/inequality agenda) while dealing with a difficult funding environment. Contentful+1
The use of reserves, efficiency drives, increased fees/charges, and a moderate Council Tax rise seems designed to ensure basic stability rather than expansion. This approach is defensible and perhaps the only realistic path under current constraints — but it leaves little margin for error. If demand increases or central funding is squeezed further, services may suffer.
