The Liberal Democrat administration’s budget proposals have widened the black hole in South Cambridgeshire District Council’s finances.
The administration’s budget was considered in a council meeting on Tuesday.
Worryingly, the budget forecast estimates a £4.485 million funding gap between 2024 and 2029 – widening the ominous black hole in the Lib Dem administration’s finances by over £500,000 compared to last year.
The budget deficit for this year is bigger than the administration predicted. Their 2023 budget predicted £99,000 budget pressures for 2024/25 and just £22,000 for 2025/26.
But last year’s predictions are miles off the Lib Dems’ bleak outlook for this year – with budget pressures now reaching £709,000 in 2024/25 and £281,000 in 2025/26.
It is concerning that the administration has also identified fewer savings this year – only rubbing salt in the wounds of the council’s bleeding finances.
In their 2023 budget, the Lib Dems identified savings of £1.125 million for 2024/25 – versus £701,000 identified for the same year this time around.
The Lib Dem budget assumes savings that, like last year, may not be fulfilled – whilst identifying significantly greater pressure on council spending. This is a catastrophic financial cocktail.
Cllr Heather Williams, Leader of the Conservative Opposition at South Cambs, said:
“I am extremely concerned that the budget gap is now over £4 million. We warned last year if the Lib Dem administration didn’t change their mentality that the budget gap would increase – and it has.
“The budget gap means that the council simply cannot afford the political spending of the Lib Dem administration.
“Different choices need to be made, or residents will feel the consequences of the Lib Dems’ inaction later on down the line. But one thing is for sure – the guilt will not land at our door. We have warned them and they have continued. This is truly their mess that needs sorting.”
