Bradford Council set to close several key buildings

It is also proposed that Council Tax is increased by 2.99 per cent and an Adult Social Care precept increase of 2 per cent is levied in line with the parameters set in the Chancellor’s recent Autumn Statement, making a total increase of 4.99 per cent. 

Meanwhile, the Council feels it can raise £218,000 next year through the implementation of a consistent approach to car parking charges.

The closure of council buildings Argus Chambers, Britannia House and the Margaret McMillan Tower, along with "additional sites", is predicted to save over £1 million. 

Documents propose Argus Chambers and Margaret McMillan Tower would close in 2023-2024, saving £279,000, while Britannia House and additional sites would take place in 2024-25, saving £840,000.

Britannia House (Image: Newsquest)

The Keighley Household Waste and Recycling site has also being touted to shut.

Additionally, all Household Waste and Recycling sites in the district are set to reduce their opening hours.

A managed approach to Council vacancies, by keeping posts unfilled for longer, is also set to save £10 million each year.

In line with the Government’s own assumptions, Bradford Council will have to use an unprecedented level of reserves - £28.4 million in order to balance the budget. 

Bradford’s Band D Council tax is 8 per cent below the average for Metropolitan authorities and 80 per cent of households in Bradford district are below that bracket.

The most therefore that can be raised through Council Tax in Bradford under the current threshold is £11m a year.

Margaret McMillan Tower

Bradford faces soaring inflation and mounting demand for services, particularly in social care.

Before the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, Council finances were already under pressure as a result of austerity, rising demand and increasing costs.

Since 2011, Bradford Council has had to deliver £310 million in budget reductions and raise Council Tax to balance the books.

Immediately prior to the pandemic, Council finances had achieved greater stability than at any point in the previous decade.

Over this period, the burden of funding for local services has shifted significantly from the government to council taxpayers.

Argus Chambers (Image: Newsquest)

A significant investment of £50m is proposed to make improvements in services for the district's most vulnerable children and adults.

A further £700,000 will help to improve services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

There is a call for the Government to provide certainty and stability in Council funding.

Independent analysis shows that Bradford would have benefited by an additional £32 million in funding had the Government implemented its Fair Funding Review for councils.

There is also urgent action needed to tackle pressure on adults and children's social care. This is a national issue but Bradford has also seen rising demand for both.

A range of new savings and income generation proposals are also included.

Keighley Household Waste and Recycling site (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “Times are incredibly difficult for the residents of our district and this proposed budget will continue to deliver vital services and also invest in services that are needed by our most vulnerable.

"It’s wrong for the Government to ask us to raise council tax to cover the gap in funding they have left councils with.

"We know this places an additional burden onto local taxpayers in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis in order to address what essentially are national issues.

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe (Image: Newsquest)

"Resources set aside to invest in the District’s future must now be deployed to fill significant budget gaps arising from largely external factors beyond the Council’s control. 

"The Local Government Association (LGA) estimates that inflation, energy costs and increases in the National Living Wage will add a further £2.4bn in extra cost pressures to councils’ budgets in the current financial year rising to £3.6bn in 2024-25.

“However we remain incredibly ambitious for the future of our District, its unrivalled growth potential has seen it ranked as the UK’s number one levelling up opportunity and we will continue to work to deliver growth and unlock our potential.”

The Proposed Financial Plan and Budget proposals for 2023/24 will go before the Council’s Executive on Wednesday, December 14.

Consultation on the budget proposals will be open from December 14 to January 25, 2023.