Under the proposals, the council’s net budget would rise by 6.7%, from £752.9 million in 2024/25 to £803.7 million in 2025/26. Key allocations include:
- £18.1 million extra for children’s services, ensuring continued support for young people and families in need
- £35.2 million extra for adult care, aimed at addressing the growing demand for social care services.
To help fund these essential services, the council is proposing a 4.99% rise in Council Tax. This would consist of a 2.99% increase in general Council Tax and an additional 2% specifically for adult care services.
This means the costs for a household would be:
- Band B property: £24.67 per week, a £1.17 increase from 2024-25
(Band B properties are the most common in Suffolk)
- Band D property: £31.72 per week, a £1.51 increase from 2024-25.
The council will also receive £12.1 million of the additional £880 million allocated by the government for adult and children’s social care. It also expects to receive £2.2 million of the £263 million earmarked for a new Children’s Services Prevention Grant.
To balance the books, the council has also identified £10.9 million in additional savings, building on the £17.5 million approved last year. This brings the total savings to £28.4 million for the 2025/26 financial year.
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, economic development and skills, said:
“We remain committed to supporting vulnerable children and adults in Suffolk. Despite the financial challenges posed by increasing demand and broader economic pressures, we are proposing a balanced budget without drawing on unallocated reserves.
“It is deeply disappointing that, despite our significant deprivation levels, Suffolk will receive nothing from the government’s new £600 million Recovery Grant. Further, the scrapping of the Services Grant and Rural Services Delivery Grant will see £3.7 million struck from our budget.
“Nevertheless, we understand the pressures facing families and businesses in Suffolk, and that is why we will continue to ensure every pound we spend delivers the best value for our residents.”
The budget proposals will be presented at a Scrutiny Meeting on Tuesday, 14 January 2025. The meeting will be live-streamed on Suffolk County Council's YouTube channel, and relevant papers can be viewed on the committee minutes page.
The final budget will be debated and voted on at a Full Council meeting on Thursday, 13 February 2025.
