Finance and Delivery
The Architecture of Real Change
A council that cannot manage its budget is a council that has lost its authority to lead. Whilst we accept that local government has been placed under exceptional financial pressure arising from poor government settlements and an over-reliance on deeply regressive council tax, we reject the claim that the only solutions are to relentlessly hike council tax for local residents or go cap in hand to Westminster. We must regain our own agency of local finances, for the benefit of all.
Our finance and delivery plan asks why we should continue to plug holes in overspending areas without asking why the bucket is leaking in the first place. We believe it is possible to have a city that is cleaner, greener and fairer, but only if we are able to fundamentally restructure the machinery of the Civic Centre.
Frontline First
We do not subscribe to ever higher council tax whilst delivering diminishing returns.
- We will abolish the Deputy Chief Executive's division. These funds will be immediately redirected into enforcement and prevention, hiring officers to tackle the fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour that blights our wards.
- We will establish a dedicated Cabinet Delivery Unit, answerable directly to the political leadership, and responsible for delivering radical culture change within the Civic Centre. It will ensure that radical thinking that delivers tangible results is supported to flourish.
Plugging the Leaks
The current budget deficit is not an accident: it is the result of a lack of political will to tackle the transparent issues in overspending areas, particularly social care, Special Educational Needs support, and the property portfolio. This is not about doing less. It is about recognising that pouring ever greater sums of money into these areas is not improving outcomes. By tackling these areas, we can deliver better outcomes and free up vital funds for reinvestment elsewhere.
- We will conduct a root-and-branch review of social care and Special Educational Needs (SEND) delivery in Year One. By moving from crisis firefighting to a preventive model, we will reduce long-term costs while improving outcomes.
- We will end the drain of public money on external agents and underutilised assets. By bringing property management in-house and launching our Digital Land Map, we turn our assets from liabilities into engines of reinvestment.
Investing in our Priorities
Because we are prepared to make the tough choices in the back office, we can afford to invest in the front line.
- We will bring forward capital spending to address historic underinvestment in our highways.
- We will allocate additional funding for capital upgrades to parks and play areas, and revenue funding for daily maintenance and the operation of local park facilities.
- We will redirect capital spending towards improved repairs and maintenance in our council housing stock.
A Fair Deal for the Taxpayer
Taxation is the price we pay to live in a civilised society, but that price must be fair. Residents paying council tax must see the benefits of the money they pay in to maintain our local area. We believe that by applying professional rigour to our finances, we can restore the social contract between the Civic Centre and the citizens of Newcastle.