Council Budget 2021-22

Consultation has concluded

The Budget Consultation report has been published in the Documents section of this webpage. Thank you for your contributions. The report will help councillors make their decisions on final recommendations for the council budget 2021-22 at the full Council meeting in March 2021.

This coming year Wirral Council continues to face financial challenges which have been made more severe by the Covid-19 pandemic. Current figures indicate the authority needs to make savings in the region of £16.5m – a budget gap largely caused by the cost of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Failure to make these budget savings will mean the council’s expenditure will exceed its income, which is illegal.

The council has a legal obligation to set a balanced budget for the next financial year. Last year a balanced budget had been set, based on the expectation the authority could make a number of savings. However, the requirement on the council to urgently respond to the impact of Covid-19 throughout most of 2020 meant much of these savings could not be achieved.

Additional government funding has been made available through the year, but it is estimated that this will not fully meet the additional costs which have been borne by the council through 2020. The government has been asked to approve capitalisation of some additional costs which the council has had this year – and if agreed this will go some way to helping.

We would like you to tell us what you think about options for Wirral Council’s Budget 2021-22. Further detail on these options can be viewed in the Budget Booklet in the Documents section.

You can complete the survey and use the Ideas Board to give us your own feedback and ideas about the Council Budget. In January we will be holding online events to discuss the budget options so if you have any questions you would like to be heard at those events please let us know. The events will be held online through Microsoft Teams on Thursday 14 January.

Following the consultation, your feedback will be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee which will decide on a set of budget proposals to be recommended to the full council which takes place in March 2021. The full council will have the final say on the authority’s budget for the next year.

The Budget Consultation report has been published in the Documents section of this webpage. Thank you for your contributions. The report will help councillors make their decisions on final recommendations for the council budget 2021-22 at the full Council meeting in March 2021.

This coming year Wirral Council continues to face financial challenges which have been made more severe by the Covid-19 pandemic. Current figures indicate the authority needs to make savings in the region of £16.5m – a budget gap largely caused by the cost of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Failure to make these budget savings will mean the council’s expenditure will exceed its income, which is illegal.

The council has a legal obligation to set a balanced budget for the next financial year. Last year a balanced budget had been set, based on the expectation the authority could make a number of savings. However, the requirement on the council to urgently respond to the impact of Covid-19 throughout most of 2020 meant much of these savings could not be achieved.

Additional government funding has been made available through the year, but it is estimated that this will not fully meet the additional costs which have been borne by the council through 2020. The government has been asked to approve capitalisation of some additional costs which the council has had this year – and if agreed this will go some way to helping.

We would like you to tell us what you think about options for Wirral Council’s Budget 2021-22. Further detail on these options can be viewed in the Budget Booklet in the Documents section.

You can complete the survey and use the Ideas Board to give us your own feedback and ideas about the Council Budget. In January we will be holding online events to discuss the budget options so if you have any questions you would like to be heard at those events please let us know. The events will be held online through Microsoft Teams on Thursday 14 January.

Following the consultation, your feedback will be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee which will decide on a set of budget proposals to be recommended to the full council which takes place in March 2021. The full council will have the final say on the authority’s budget for the next year.

Ask a Question at Our Events

This consultation is now closed.

We will be holding online Question Time events in January. You can send us a question to be asked at the events and we will answer as many as time allows.

Please be aware all information you provide will be visible so do not share any personal information about yourself or anybody else here.

The events will be held online through Microsoft Teams.

 A Question Time event for residents to attend:

RESIDENT EVENT - Thursday 14th January @ 3.15-3.45pm

 A Question time event specifically for young people to attend:

YOUNG PEOPLE EVENT - Thursday 14th January @ 4-4.30pm 

 If you require more information about the events or how to access them, please contact:

BudgetConsult@wirral.gov.uk

Consultation has concluded
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I am opposed to the idea of a three weekly collection of green bins. Surely any potential savings in doing so would be lost due to the likely increase of vermin and or disease? The cost to public health is far more important especially with a pandemic to control too.
Also if as you propose to reduce maintenance of public green areas, then fly tipping could become prolific, meaning further reduction in any profits you are seeking by reducing green bin collections.

Jojo about 3 years ago

I understand one of the ideas to reduce budget deficit is to reduce chances bin collection from 2weeks to 3 week intervals. I have to say I am strongly against this idea as in its current format we are already plagued with maggots and flies in the summer. Which in itself leads to a health hazard for all around the local area. The prospect of increasing the intervals would only compound the issue. Could the emptying of “ Garden waste “ bins not be curtailed putting the ownership of removal of such waste with the homeowner (unless other wise unable to).

Shenn70 about 3 years ago

Re proposals to close Europa Pools and delay opening of Woodchurch Leisure, Where is it proposed all primary schools have access to swimming pools to ensure Wirral children from all areas have the opportunity to learn to swim?

CM about 3 years ago

How can Europa Pools make a loss of £640k per year? Surely the INCOME it generates goes back in to council coffers, so closing it will not give this large saving at the year end. This is a well used and well liked facility for leisure and club swimmers alike. It has the best competitive swimming facilities in the Wirral. It has helped local, national and Olympic swimmers to develop to their full potential. It needs to stay open!

Ian from Bebington about 3 years ago

Leaving the bin collection for 3 weeks would be a disaster The bins are completely full now , would it mean bigger and heavier bins, as a pensioner I struggle now, or would it mean taking waste to the tip yourselves , surely the Council would not be fulfilling their obligations re: collections and a rebate would be in order ?

Tranmere28 about 3 years ago

Have the council applied for the National Sports Recovery fund to support keeping Europa and Woodchurch leisure centres open?

Laura H about 3 years ago

The document produced is factually incorrect particularly with relation to the golf course scenario, the saving cost are incorrect, there has been many submissions to management to make the operation and management of the courses since 2016 but have not been undertaken, excessive expenditure on consultations has been undertaken with no outcome but the is seen throughout the whole of the council. Also with golf no management operational models have been undertaken even when staff have proposed them. No liaison between senior staff on a regular basis as previously agreed with the golf club. Also this happens in all areas of the council depending on the service ????

Unhappy over 3 years ago

If you move to only emptying green bins every 3wks how do you plan to prevent an influx of rats because of the rotting waste. Maggots are already a massive problem in warm weather due to waste being in green bins for wks, 3 would be a disaster. We would be overun with vermin. I live in a good but built up area of Eastham however my cats regularly bring in mice and rats without having to travel too far. Food waste in bins for 3 weeks will only serve to escalate this into a real environmental and health issue

ChrisY over 3 years ago

What checks are done when giving out Covid hardship funds to businesses. I know that local food shops in Hoylake did better than ever during the 1st lock down yet have been given money from the funds and taken out very cheap loans so they can use them to go on holiday

L over 3 years ago

I seem to be in a loop which takes me around the projects but there is not a proposed budget to have my say on!
I am particularly interested in the future of the Williamson Gallery and the The Priory.
Would you please let me know how the proposed budget will impact these in the budget.
Thank you
Pauline

Pauline over 3 years ago

Why pussyfoot about? You are going to increase CT anyway, tell us what the ballpark increase is then we can make more practical suggestions?

Thebear over 3 years ago

Are we worried about having to save £16.5? Have we already been making savings in proof-reading costs?

FIBell over 3 years ago

If your proposal to reduce bin collections to a three weekly cycle will we get a reduction in our council tax rates, as we pay for this service and you are reducing it. Please remember that the services you want to cut in the proposals is what we pay council taxes for and if you scrap or reduce them you can not charge us for them as it becomes unlawful charges.

Gary over 3 years ago