Have your say about Bury Council’s budget proposals

Residents, businesses and community organisations across Bury are being invited to have their say on proposals for the council’s 2027/28 budget.

The consultation, running to 30 November, follows Cabinet’s consideration of the council’s latest financial position and proposals for savings and additional income.

The council faces a forecast budget gap of £20.3 million for next year. Rising demand and costs, particularly in adult and children’s social care, continue to place pressure on services. Some previously planned savings have also taken longer to deliver than expected.

The council has identified £10.7m proposals to reduce the gap and is continuing to develop further measures to find the remaining £9.586 million.

Proposals being consulted on include

Green waste collections

The Council is considering introducing charging for garden waste collections using the existing brown bin service. Under the proposal, households that wish to continue receiving a garden waste collection service would pay an annual subscription charge. We want to understand how this could affect households and what residents think about the proposal.

Street Light switching off (trimming)

The proposal under review is to switch off (trim) certain streetlights at particular times and locations to further drive reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions. A number of locations such as major road junctions and known collision hotspots would be exempt. We want to hear from residents, partner and community groups about this proposal.

School crossing patrols

Proposed changes to school crossing patrol provision to retain high-priority crossing points only and stop others that are medium or low priority. We want to hear from parents, carers, schools and other residents who use or are affected by these services.

Leisure Services fees increases

A proposed fee increase of 20% in order to support a sustainable, accessible three-centre leisure offer for residents across the borough. The service is facing increased operating and maintenance costs across the leisure estate, alongside the additional costs of bringing new leisure provision into operation before membership, participation and income have had time to build to expected levels.

Health and Adult Care – Removal of Home Care Cap

Proposal to bring Bury in line with most other Councils and the government’s charging regulations by removing the cap on care packages where financial assessments show that individuals who have sufficient means to pay their full care packages will do so.

Cllr Sean Thorpe, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Every resident in Bury benefits from council services in some way, every day. We keep our borough clean and safe, support our communities and protect people when they are most vulnerable.

“We’re proud of what our services and staff deliver, but the cost of providing that support is rising. We’re already changing how we work and making progress through our LET’S Do It! strategy, but there is more to do.

“Some of the choices ahead are difficult, and we know household budgets are under pressure too. That’s why we want people to understand the proposals and tell us what they think before decisions are made.

“We are also exploring the possibility of Exceptional Financial Support as part of our wider work to manage the financial position.

“Despite what may have been said this is not a bailout – the government would not be giving out a grant or free money.

“EFS allows the council more freedom to use capital funding more flexibly or in exceptional circumstances to take on additional borrowing.

“It gives councils the necessary ‘breathing space’ to continue delivering essential services and set a legally required balanced budget,

“It is very much a last resort and the decision by the Cabinet is to begin discussions with the government about whether EFS is suitable and if we should apply.

"Every decision is guided by our commitment to shield the most vulnerable from the impact of change wherever possible, while preserving the core services that matter most to residents.

"We are developing a sustainable strategy that balances financial resilience with our commitment to protecting vulnerable residents and maintaining vital frontline services."

Residents can read the proposals and complete the consultation at: Budget Consultation 2027-28

The council will consider responses alongside financial and service evidence before final budget decisions are made in February 2027.