Surrey County Council Budget 2025/26: A Conservative Recipe for Financial Instability
Surrey County Council Budget 2025/26: A Recipe for Financial Instability
Today’s Surrey County Council Budget meeting has left residents across the county with serious concerns about the future of local services and financial management. The Liberal Democrat group at the council, led by Cllr Paul Follows, voted against the proposed budget and accompanying council tax rise, which was ultimately approved by the Conservative majority.
Why We Opposed the Budget
According to Cllr Follows, this budget is one of the most poorly planned local government budgets he has encountered. It includes:
- Unfunded spending: Many proposed initiatives lack clear funding sources.
- Undefined cost savings: Cuts in key service areas are based on vague assumptions rather than concrete plans.
- Reliance on asset sales: The budget relies on revenue from unspecified asset sales to fund critical areas like highways spending.
A Precarious Financial Position
The financial fragility of Surrey County Council is deeply concerning. The council currently has just 14 days of operational reserves – a stark contrast to the standard minimum of six months considered safe for local authorities. Despite years of promises, some savings from long-planned projects remain unrealised. Instead, the council appears to be banking on these unmaterialised savings for this year’s budget.
Cuts to Essential Services
The budget proposes cuts across essential service areas already under immense pressure, including:
- Adult social care
- Children’s services
- Support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Cllr Liz Townsend delivered a powerful speech highlighting the human cost of these cuts. She emphasised that parents and carers of children with SEND are already navigating a broken system and living in constant anxiety about whether their children will receive even the most basic support. This budget, she argued, offers them no relief.
She went on to strongly criticise the decision to allocate £5 million for one-off verge maintenance, saying the council was offering neat grass verges while families were in despair.
Proposals for Scrutiny and Support Rejected
Cllr Follows put forward constructive proposals to address these issues, including:
- Independent scrutiny: Introducing external oversight to ensure financial assumptions are realistic and robust.
- Voluntary contribution scheme: A charitable initiative encouraging wealthier residents to contribute to programs supporting young people and the homeless.
Unfortunately, both proposals were rejected, with the latter drawing criticism from a Residents Association councillor who labeled the idea ‘morally corrupt.’
Call for Urgent Action
Cllr Follows highlighted the need for Surrey County Council to undergo immediate reorganisation and for a comprehensive, independent review of its finances and practices. “Their financial stability is precarious, to put it mildly,” he warned. Should the Liberal Democrats win the next elections, this review would be their top priority.
This budget may appear balanced on paper, but it fails to address the real-world challenges facing Surrey’s residents and services. The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a more sustainable and transparent approach to local government in Surrey.