Proposed Budget Consultation 2026-27

Dundonians could be given a chance to share their views before the council sets its budget early next year.

A report to go before the city governance committee on Monday (November 17) recommends carrying out a public consultation which includes seeking feedback on a range of potential savings options to help set a balanced budget. 

If approved, the consultation would start at the end of this month and run for four weeks. People would be able to respond online or through paper forms available in libraries and community centres.

The full committee report and list of savings proposals can be read on the Dundee City Council website.

Participants will be able to give their feedback on the impact any possible changes would have on them, which will be considered when final budget decisions are made.

It comes after elected members previously considered the council's budget strategy and financial outlook which identified a funding deficit of £8.4m for next year. It is noted this deficit may increase if the council is unable to reduce the level of overspend in the current financial year on a recurring basis or further cost pressures emerge before next year.

Any final gap will require to be made up from efficiencies, additional income including government grants or an increase in local council tax. The estimated gap is before any agreed increase in council tax, where for each 1% added to the current charge, the council would expect to generate additional income of £700,000 each year.

In the event, that the deficit cannot be fully met by those items, the council may also consider removing certain services and details of any options to do so are included in consultation survey.

Depute convener of the city governance committee, with responsibility for finance, Willie Sawers said: “The financial challenges facing the council make the decisions we take to set a balanced budget for the year ahead increasingly difficult.

“With £181m of savings and efficiencies made by the council since 2008, we calculate that we may need to make further savings next year. As with households, the council’s bills for essentials like utilities and services have also gone up.

“Despite that we remain focused on protecting frontline services in next year’s budget, the reality is that the difficult choices we take will impact on the lives of everyone in Dundee.

“It is important that people have a chance to have their say on the options put forward by officers and by taking part in the budget consultation they can do that.

“The council has limited resources at its disposal and members of the public can tell us what areas they think should be prioritised. They can also tell us their thoughts on the level of Council Tax for next year.

“It should be made clear that none of the savings proposals have been taken up. We need the views of people to best understand their priorities and any impacts that changes will have on them.

“The more people who take part, by giving detailed feedback, the more informed our decisions in the budget-setting process will be.”