Council’s tough financial challenges ahead

Bury Council is confronting one of the toughest financial challenges in its history due to the difficult economic context.

Despite this, the Council remains committed to protecting vital services and building a sustainable future for our borough.

Next week, the council’s Cabinet will discuss the budget for 2026/27.

Like councils across the country, Bury faces rising costs and increasing demand, particularly in adults’ and children’s social care, where more people than ever need support.

Around 70 per cent of budget is spent on these demand-led services, ensuring the most vulnerable residents are cared for.

This comes on top of £140m already taken out of the budget in recent years. Despite increasingly strong financial management, there is a £16m gap between what we spend and what we bring in.

This is a huge deficit – but the council has already identified £8.5m of savings and has a clear plan to close the remaining £7.5m and create a stable and sustainable financial platform.

Our strategy, rooted in the refreshed LET’S Do It principles, focuses on:

• Driving efficiencies internally – services are running at 100 per cent capacity, and we’re transforming systems and processes.
• Increasing income, including from maximising our assets and by agile treasury management.
• Taking a commercial approach to suppliers and the external market.
  
  

The intention is to minimise the financial gap as far as possible, but the use of some reserves to balance the budget this year is likely to be required.

Every pound saved helps protect outcomes for residents and invest in the future – a better start in life for our children, thriving town centres, and greener spaces.

Everyone can do their bit – residents, businesses, and partners – to help shape solutions. Public consultation on the budget starts Thursday, 4 December.

Councillor Sean Thorpe, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “The economic situation is tough and like councils up and down the country, we face increasing costs and inflation and rising demand, particularly for services for the most vulnerable.

“We’re determined to do everything we can to protect those who need our services the most.

“But despite the headwinds, Bury is doing everything possible to manage this storm without the drastic measures some other councils have taken.

“We’re laying the foundations for a stronger financial position in the years ahead by controlling demand and improving efficiency. The new three-year government funding settlement may help us plan better, but right now, our focus is on closing the gap.

“At the same time, we’re working to grow the local economy and create hope – with vibrant investment in our towns, an accelerated housing programme, and the Atom Valley scheme, one of Greater Manchester’s most significant regeneration projects.

“By law, we must set a balanced budget each year. By acting now, we ensure decisions remain local and aligned with our LET’S Do It vision – giving our borough the schools, housing, health improvements, and jobs we need.”