Questions over £50m budget savings plan

A consultation has been launched on a £50m savings plan drawn up by Bradford Council as it aims to speed up its financial recovery.

The Reform UK-led executive has published its first budget savings proposals for 2027-28 since taking over running the authority six months ago, identifying 42 areas where spending could be reduced.

Council leader Stephen Place said the cutbacks and efficiencies were needed to end reliance on emergency government support and resolve what he called the "basket case" financial dilemmas of the past.

"The ultimate goal is to be self-determining financially for the city of Bradford. We're on track to do that next year," he said.

However at a meeting on Tuesday the decision making executive faced multiple questions from opposition party groups about the detail and viability of the proposals.

There was particular concern that only £3.5m of the proposed £50m savings are being put to the public, with the rest deemed not to require consultation.

Conservative group leader Rebecca Poulsen called the report detailing the savings proposals "very, very thin on detail" and questioned how residents could respond meaningfully.

She also questioned some of the council's ambitions, especially the planned £18.82m in savings from Bradford Children and Families Trust, including over £16m from reducing external placements for children in care, which can cost over £300,000 per child annually.

"If we can deliver [these savings], it's fantastic," she said. "But I'm quite nervous about this, I haven't seen any business case on this proposal.

"There is a history of council budgets relying on a reduction in external placements, only for the numbers to be completely wrong."

Trust chief executive Charlotte Ramsden said external residential placements were "incredibly difficult to forecast" but was confident spending could be reduced.

Other proposals include reducing agency staffing costs, improving productivity and increasing fees and charges, although which areas these would come from has not been revealed.

They also include £500,000 in savings from the Localities Team, which provides neighbourhood services, and £210,000 from leisure services.

The plans also earmark £1.18m in Clean Air Zone (CAZ) income, although the council has previously pledged to scrap the CAZ entirely.

Green group leader Matt Edwards questioned proposed fee increases, saying: "We shouldn't be balancing the budget on the back of the most vulnerable in the district."

He welcomed efficiency efforts but raised concerns about older and disabled residents and sought assurances over youth services.

"Our red line is making sure that the most vulnerable in our district are protected," he said.

Labour group leader Imran Khan called the proposals the "smallest budget I've ever seen go out to consultation", adding that "most decisions have already been made".

The meeting heard criticism of Khan's previous Labour administration over financial difficulties that required government support and £391m in borrowing.

Defending his party's record, Khan said Conservative austerity had reduced the council's budget by £350m a year.

There was an extended exchange between Khan and Ian Eglin, the executive's corporate resources portfolio holder, who said: "Yes there was a long period where the council was underfunded, but the issues were due to Labour not watching what was going on. It shouldn't have got to this situation."

Khan replied: "Labour put a plan in place (to achieve financial stability) – you're following that plan. Bradford is coming out of financial support two years early – that didn't happen in the last six months."

The meeting heard the council has made £150m in savings over three years and hopes to end its dependence on additional government support two years earlier than anticipated.

The council also faced questions about potential job losses, with between 20 and 99 redundancies thought to be on the cards. The meeting heard these would likely come from efficiencies being planned in "locality" and adult social care services.

Stephen Mair, the authority's interim strategic director of corporate resources, said the authority "will do everything we can" to "ensure any human impact is minimised". He said talks with trade union representatives are already underway.

Speaking after the meeting, Place pointed to an inherited £120m deficit but acknowledged recovery work had begun under Labour, saying abandoning existing measures would have been "very imprudent".

"It's not easy, but I believe that the decisions that have been taken are very deliverable," he said.

The savings plan also assumes a 4.99% council tax increase, although Place said no final decision had been taken. Asked whether the council tax increase could be higher then 4.99%, Place said: "Definitely not more."

Further budget details, including the final council tax levels, would follow in the coming weeks, he said.

Summing up, Place said: "The financial challenges facing Bradford are significant. We need honest discussions rather than short term fixes.

"Fiscal prudence is the name of the game.

"£50m savings are needed to balance the books and return the council to a safe financial situation."

The public consultation runs until 16 December, with its findings to be discussed in January, before the full council considers and votes on the final budget in February 2027.

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