Leaders of Cumberland Council have agreed budget proposals for 2025/26 which will deliver millions of pounds of investment into the area and improve key services for the public.
The Council’s Executive agreed to the proposals at their meeting in Whitehaven today (18 February). These will now be considered by the full Council in March.
Members agreed a revenue budget of over £700m of which the net budget of £358m is paid for through council tax, business rates and government grants. This all pays for the day-to-day delivery of services on which the people of Cumberland rely.
Central to the plans is £298m of capital investment. This includes money to deliver improvements to schools, roads, children’s services, care homes and town regeneration projects for communities across Cumberland.
Financial pressures and transformation
Like councils across the country, Cumberland faces budget pressures from rising costs, inflation, and increased demand for social care services. Inflation alone adds a further £15m to the council’s spending. These budget proposals set out how the council is placing its finances on a more sustainable footing through a comprehensive transformation plan, while continuing to provide high-quality services for residents.
To help balance the budget and protect vital services, the Executive is proposing a 4.99% increase in council tax - made up of a 2.99% rise in core council tax and a 2% Adult Social Care precept. This represents an additional £1.74 a week for a Band D property. The vast majority of properties are in Bands A to C, with the bill for a Band A property proposed to increase by £1.16 a week.
Despite the proposed increase, council tax levels in Cumberland remain below the national average for unitary councils.
For those residents on low incomes who might need help with paying their council tax bill, the budget continues to include funding for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (worth £22m). More information on the scheme, and how to apply, is on the council’s website.
For the first year, the budget includes an additional 100% premium on council tax for second homes which was agreed last year.
Speaking on the budget proposals, Cllr Barbara Cannon, Executive member with responsibility for Financial Planning and Assets, said: “This budget is all about investment in our communities. In our first two years we have managed to put our finances on a more sustainable foundation, as well as start to look to do things differently and better. The recent thumbs up from Ofsted in awarding us a ‘Good’ rating, showed that our approach is working and delivering for the people of Cumberland.
“There is however, more work to do, and our finances remain under pressure from inflation and increased demand especially in children’s and adult services. This is why our transformation plan remains so important. It is also why our commitment to take a more preventative approach to services, and investing in services for those most in need such as children in care, is the right thing to do.
“The consultation provided an opportunity for residents to share their priorities with us. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to respond. We have listened and this budget includes money for the people’s priorities including roads and social care. The results will also be critical in helping us put together our budgets in future years.
“No council likes to put up council tax, but by not doing so we’d have to make further cuts to services. The majority of those who responded to the consultation also recognised this fact. I’d encourage anyone on a low income who has not applied for help under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme to contact us as soon as possible. I’m pleased that we have been able to find funding for the scheme again this year, which remains one of the most generous schemes in the country.”
Capital investment
The Executive has agreed a £298 million capital investment programme for 2025/26, underlining the council’s commitment to regeneration, infrastructure, and community development. Key projects include £4.65m in new children’s care facilities and over £4m for schools. There is also £5.4m for disabled facilities grants which help people remain independent in their homes.
Cumberland’s highway network will see an investment of £15.8m which will go towards roads, bridges and other infrastructure. A further £7m will go on pothole repairs.
There is also millions of pounds of investment into communities across Cumberland including the Station Gateway project in Carlisle, and Town Deal and regeneration investment in Workington, Millom and Cleator Moor.
The council received 700 responses to its budget consultation which was held between 9 December 2024 to 6 January 2025. Of those who answered, 53.2% agreed or strongly agreed with the proposed 2.99% increase in the general council tax and 51.3% agreed or strongly agreed with the 2% Adult Social Care precept.
Participants highlighted road maintenance, bin collection, public transport, adult social care, and public health as their top service priorities.
There was also strong support for some of the potential ideas for future budgets. These included the council taking a more commercial approach to council services, using pricing at leisure centres to help people tackle specific health issues, and making more use of self-service and digital services.