Cash-strapped Stoke-on-Trent City Council is set to unveil its latest budget proposals. The council will launch a public consultation on its draft budget for 2025/26 on January 6, with the elected members due to approve the final proposals on February 27.

Council chiefs say they are facing 'significant challenges' in setting a balanced budget this year, and there have been ongoing talks with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Halfway through the current financial year, the council was facing a £9.3 million overspend, with £6.3 million relating to children's social care.

As is the case every year, the draft budget will include a list of savings proposals as well as the proposed council tax increase. Councils such as Stoke-on-Trent which provide social care will be able to increase council tax by a maximum of five per cent without a referendum.

In December, the government published the local government settlement, detailing how much central funding each council will receive in 2025/26.

According to the government's calculations, the city council's 'core spending power' will increase from £293.1 million to £318.3 million in 2025/26, assuming the authority imposes the maximum council tax rise.

But it is not yet clear what the settlement will mean for the council's finances, or what savings will still need to be made in order to balance the budget. Last year the council secured £42.2 million in 'exceptional financial support' from the government, after saying that it would otherwise face bankruptcy.

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