Budget Conversation 2021-22
Tameside Council (TMBC) and NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) together form the Tameside and Glossop Strategic Commission. We are responsible for a range of services from bin collections through care for the elderly to the provision of GP surgeries.
The total amount of money spent by both organisations is £974 million. Although a significant sum of money, that amount has reduced considerably over recent years due to cuts in funding from central Government. Both organisations have had to find increasingly new and innovative ways to provide the services local people want. We have had to save £171 million in the last seven years to balance the books. This is due to a combination of rising costs, cuts in funding and increased demand for services.
The coronavirus pandemic has also resulted in significant financial challenges for the Strategic Commission, which now need to be addressed as part of our budget setting process. The impact of Covid-19 has more than doubled what we expected we would already have to save. This estimation is based on increased demand on services and reduced income from business rates, fees, charges and investments. However, there are significant uncertainties around the financial impact of Covid-19 particularly on income sources, and whether the government will provide emergency funding. We estimate that we may need to save over £60 million in 2021.
Both Tameside Council and NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group have to set a balanced budget for 2021/22. To prepare a balanced budget a number of considerations have to be taken into account. These include legal and statutory requirements placed on us by Government, an understanding of the need for different services based on the analysis of existing service use, new ideas and opportunities including looking at what other areas are doing and the need to make savings while continuing to deliver for our community. In addition the views of local people are important in helping us understand your priorities and informing the budget setting.
Please read the information at the link below that explains in more detail where the money spent on local services comes from and what types of services it is spent on.
The figures linked to below are an indicative guide to the scale of spending and the main areas of spend. The figures are not a draft budget for 2021/22. Please also note Tameside & Glossop Strategic Commission provide health services for Tameside & Glossop and council services for Tameside only. Council services in Glossop are the responsibility of Derbyshire County Council and High Peak Borough Council and are not part of this budget conversation.
You can access the information slides by clicking here.
Having read the information on the link above please go to the online survey and gives us your views on what you think should be the spending priorities for 2021/22 and any ideas or suggestions you have for how we might deliver services more efficiently, save money or raise revenue.
You can access the online survey by clicking here.
Alternatively you can e-mail us at bigconversation@tameside.gov.uk
We are also hosting a number of public virtual engagement sessions to gather views of people in Tameside & Glossop. Participants will have the opportunity to share and discuss their priorities for the budget in 2021/22. Sessions will take place on:
- 18 November 2020, 9am – 10.30am
- 25 November 2020, 6pm – 7.30pm
- 8 December 2020, 2pm – 3.30pm
Please let us have you views by 6 January 2021.
Thank you.