Stage 3: Our second budget consultation
We want all York residents to take part in our new budget consultation. This is your chance to have a say in how York’s money is spent. We want to make sure the services you need continue, even though we have an approximate £30 million money gap.
Why your voice matters
Since May 2024 we've been talking about the budget though Our Big Budget Conversation.
Starting in June 2024, residents were invited to give their feedback on how the council operates. This was followed during the summer with a combination of workshops and on and offline surveys asking residents, businesses and partners which services they prioritise. Now, in this final stage, the Big Budget Consultation is asking people to provide their thoughts on proposals to help the council balance its budget based on feedback from the previous 2 stages.
The Our Big Budget consultation will again include workshops and surveys, together with an opportunity for cross-party discussion at Scrutiny Committee on 11 November 2024.
The budget consultation will end on 1 January 2025, leading to the opportunity for more formal public participation in a January 2025 Executive meeting, where the Executive will be invited to recommend the budget for Council approval in February 2025.
This step-by-step approach over the last 6 months helps everyone understand how budget decision might affect different people and groups. It also looks at how partners, businesses and residents can work together to achieve shared goals for the city.
Your suggestions, our proposals
The latest proposals in Our Big Budget Conversation build on feedback received from previous consultations, ensuring that residents’ priorities are reflected in the budget. This input, gathered through workshops, surveys, and community discussions, has shaped key elements of the current budget strategy, which includes a balanced approach to income generation, service efficiencies, and necessary cuts. See your suggestions, our proposals.
In response to the first budget consultation, we have outlined key areas of feedback and how they have been addressed in the proposals in the second budget consultation.
We need to work together to find a fair plan that raises money, saves where we can, and only cuts services when we really have to.
Our budget plan so far
Our budget plan has these goals:
- Protecting services: We want to keep important services running, like social care, housing help, waste collection, and fixing roads. We’ve tried hard to plan so these services are not affected too much
- Raising money: We are thinking about ideas like raising council tax, adding a fee for tourists staying overnight, and charging for traffic in the city centre. We also want to look at things like green waste collection and parking fees to bring in more money
- Saving money: We are finding ways to work better and save money, which might mean having fewer staff. We know this is hard, and it could affect some services
We need your help
This consultation explains our 2025 to 2026 budget proposals, based on feedback from the last budget consultation.
We want to know your views on our plans to raise money, save costs, and keep key services running. Your feedback will help shape the final budget. Your responses will inform decisions but are not votes to adopt or reject a measure. We’ve aimed for clear communication to ensure that everyone can understand and take part.
We want to know your thoughts on our budget proposals.
Take part in our second budget consultation
Our second budget consultation is open until 11.59pm on 1 January 2025.
If you're unable to complete our second budget consultation online:
- visit any Explore Library, where you can access the online form
- contact our Customer Centre on telephone: 01904 551550 to request a paper copy and a freepost return envelope
- visit West Offices, where we can help you to complete the form, or you can drop off completed paper forms
- visit West Offices, if you require support using BSL, and we’ll help you to access this service, you will need to make an appointment
If you require this document in an alternative format, such as large print, braille, Audio, BSL or Easy Read, you can:
- contact us on email: cycaccessteam@york.gov.uk
- call us on telephone: 01904 551550, and customer services will pass your request onto the Access Team
