Cheltenham Borough Council has pledged that no local services will be cut despite facing a £1.17 million budget gap for the coming year. At a meeting on December 23, Finance Chief Peter Jeffries (LD, Springbank) confirmed plans to consult the public on budget proposals aimed at balancing the books without reducing essential services.
Council leaders are developing strategies to address the budget shortfall, including a proposed 2.99% increase in council tax. Additional measures under consideration involve raising allotment and cemetery fees, as well as increasing charges for bulky waste collection. However, current parking fees will remain unchanged.
The council has endured significant financial pressures over recent years, stemming from more than a decade of austerity measures imposed by successive governments, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring inflation, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. These challenges have contributed to drastic cuts in central government funding for local authorities.
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Cllr Jeffries emphasized that the council’s approach focuses on balancing finances without slashing services: “These aren’t cuts, these are about balancing our budget. We’re not looking at cuts, but managing funding reductions, which involves adjusting when certain capital projects are scheduled.”
Cllr Izaac Tailford (LD, All Saints) criticized the Government’s continual reduction in funding for councils, describing the situation as receiving “coal for Christmas.” He said, “Our funding from the national government is decreasing year after year while costs keep rising. It’s frankly appalling. This shifts the burden onto local councils, making our financial challenges even harder. While Cheltenham is well-managed financially, many councils may not be as fortunate and could face serious difficulties.”
Residents can review the full budget documents and submit their feedback by January 31, 2026, by emailing [email protected].