COUNCILLORS are due to consider Cumberland Council's proposed budget strategy for 2025 to 2026 at a meeting next month.

Members of the authority's executive committee agreed the document at a meeting at Cumbria House on Tuesday (October 15) and it will be referred to the full council on Tuesday, November 5.

Councillor Barbara Cannon (St Michaels, Labour), the financial planning and assets portfolio holder, said it was the first of several reports setting the budget for the next financial year.

She said that the council was facing a number of "financial challenges" and her report outlined a timeline, leading up to when next year's budget was decided, which would include a period of public consultation.

She added: "We must make sure we protect our services as best we can."

Councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great Clifton, Labour), the leader of the council, said it was important to have a balanced budget and services were under "increased demand" and added: "Social care is a real issue for us."

However, he said he was "really positive" that the budget would be balanced when the matter was decided next year.

Cllr Cannon moved the report, she was seconded by Cllr Fryer and members agreed the report.

The report states: "The aim of this budget strategy is to ensure that the council can have a priority led balanced budget over the medium term, that is realistic and supported by achievable savings plans.

"The council is continuing to face challenging budget pressures. These pressures include increasing demand for services, most notably in social care, and the long-term impacts of the pandemic, all set alongside the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis including rising inflation and energy prices.

"The council has an approved Transformation Programme. This aims to change the way we operate and deliver services, continue the work on realising the opportunities and benefits of becoming a unitary council and address the budget gaps."

According to the report between 2010 and 2020, councils are estimated to have lost 40 percent of core government funding on average, at a time when demand for core services has risen relentlessly.

It adds: "Alongside inflation embedding permanently higher costs for councils, Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis has significantly increased demand for services and adversely impacted the provider markets councils operate within."

According to the report additional costs faced by the council are primarily driven in the three key service areas: children’s social care, adult social care and home to school transport.