Since 2010, we have made savings of over £187 million against our planned budget.
Due to the current economic climate and growing pressures on services, we need to save £5.5 million between 2025 and 2026 to balance our budget. We expect the amount we need to save to rise to £9.9 million between 2026 and 2027.
Make a suggestion
We have to decide where and how to reduce your services or increase the council's income. We need to make sure our limited resources are spent as efficiently and effectively as possible.
We're always looking to improve our services. If you've any suggestions for saving money or improving our services, please send us your ideas and views. Your ideas and views matter.
Simple things you can do to help us save money
You can help us save money by doing some of these simple things.
- Recycle more: if we increased recycling and reduced general waste to landfill by 5 per cent, we would save £1.2 million a year. What you can recycle at home
- Report dumped waste: dumped rubbish not only spoils the environment - it costs time and resources to clear it up. By reporting fly-tipping you could help us catch the offenders who are breaking the law. We won't hesitate to take action and prosecute. This should reduce the amount of rubbish that's dumped. Report fly-tipping
- Dispose of your litter responsibly: do you see untidy litter spoiling the town and countryside where you live? We spend about £2 million each year on street cleaning. This includes picking up litter that's been dropped along with the cost of emptying bins. Waste and recycling centres
- Foster a child: it costs us twice as much to pay an external fostering service to look after a child than it does to use the foster carers we recruit. A foster carer's role is to work alongside us in supporting the child to achieve their full potential in a safe, secure and stable home. More about fostering
- Shop locally: every £1 you spend will generate £4 for the local economy which means you're investing in the economy of our borough. You’re also supporting your local community, helping to support jobs and keeping money in the local economy. It does make a difference - supporting your local town centres means more variety and choice will remain on the high street.
- Pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit: it costs us less to provide Direct Debit than any other payment method. You can also pay for other council services by Direct Debit, such as Careline charges and Adult Care charges for care at home. Set up or amend your Council Tax Direct Debit
- Volunteer: make a positive contribution to the local community, learn and develop a new skill, become a Community Champion or provide support to local people. Whatever you decide, there are lots of opportunities available locally to suit however much time you have to spare. Volunteering opportunities in the borough
- Use this website as much as possible: please continue to use our website to access services available online, rather than contacting us by phone or in person. It costs just a few pence rather than several pounds to access services online rather than visiting us in-person or contacting us by phone. Apply, report or pay online