Our Financial Challenges
Bury Council is facing difficult decisions about how it funds and delivers services next year.
The Council must set a balanced budget each year, but the cost of delivering services is rising faster than the resources available.
More people are needing support from adult and children’s social care, and many have more complex needs than in the past. The cost of providing these services is also increasing.
The Council also faces other challenges such as:
- Rising costs - The price of energy, fuel, materials, supplies and services has increased, which means it costs more to deliver day-to-day Council services.
- Lower income from fees and charges - The Council receives income from services such as parking, planning applications and leisure facilities. If fewer people use these services, or costs rise faster than charges, the Council receives less income.
- Business rates appeals - Businesses can challenge their business rates bills. If an appeal is successful, the Council may have to refund money it has already received, reducing the funding available for local services.
- Borrowing costs - The Council sometimes borrows money to invest in buildings, infrastructure and other major projects. Higher interest rates increase the cost of this borrowing.
- Schools becoming academies - When schools become academies, changes to funding arrangements can create financial pressures for the Council and reduce some sources of income.
- Financial pressures on partner organisations, such as the NHS - When partners face financial challenges, there can be increased demand for Council services and greater pressure on local public services as a whole.
We have already been changing how services work, helping people remain independent, reducing costs and working to grow the borough’s economy. This work continues, but further action is needed.
The Council is continuing to look for further savings and income. It has also begun exploring possible Exceptional Financial Support with Government.
The Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) framework enables local authorities experiencing significant financial pressures to seek support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) where locally available measures alone are insufficient to achieve a sustainable balanced budget.
EFS does not provide extra funding, it is not a bailout.
Instead, it allows councils to use certain financial flexibilities, such as borrowing or using money that would normally be set aside for other purposes, to help balance their budgets.
While this can provide short-term help, it can also create financial pressures in future years because the money still needs to be repaid or replaced. It does not remove the need for additional savings proposals.
Our financial position
The latest forecast for 2027/28 shows:
- £20.333 million — forecast budget gap before the new savings proposals.
- £10.747 million — value of proposals identified so far in addition to the £6.813 million approved in February 2026 for 2027/28
- £9.586 million — the gap still to be addressed if those proposals are delivered in full.
These are forecasts, not the final agreed budget. The Council are still working on developing further savings to address the forecast remaining budget gap.
14 October Cabinet budget paper
Have your say about Bury Council’s budget proposals for 2027/28
We want to hear what residents, businesses and organisations think about the proposed changes before decisions are made. Your views in this consultation will help shape our budget for 2027/28
The consultation is open between Monday 19 October and Monday 30 November
2027/28 Bury Council Budget Proposals Consultation – Fill out form
The consultation focuses on the proposed Council Tax increase, Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) options, budget setting principles, proposed savings and efficiencies changes to fees and charges and particular proposals that may have significant impact on services.
What are we asking about?
The particular proposals that may have a significant impact on services being considered include:
Green waste collections
A proposed charge for the non-statutory garden waste collection service. We want to understand how this could affect households and what residents think about the proposal.
Garden Waste Collection Service Consultation
Street Light Trimming
Proposed changes to 'trimming' selected streetlights during non peak hours to improve reductions to our energy consumption, associated costs and carbon emissions. We want to hear from residents, partner and community groups about this proposal.
School crossing patrols
Proposed changes to school crossing patrol provision. 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 the net running costs of Ramsbottom Leisure Centre and to support overall the financial sustainability of the whole leisure estate.
Leisure Services fees increases
Health and Adult Care – Removal of Home Care Cap
Proposal to bring Bury in line with most other Council’s 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.
Health and Adult Care – Removal of Home Care Cap
No final decisions about these proposals have been made.
You can also read the full October budget report
If you need the information or survey in another format, or need help taking part, contact engagement@bury.gov.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Further information about the council's budget: Budget 2027-28 Frequently Asked Questions
What happens next?
The council will review consultation responses alongside financial and service evidence before deciding which proposals to take forward.
The final budget is due to be agreed in February 2027.
We will publish information about the consultation findings, any changes made to proposals and the final decisions.
Your views will help inform those decisions.