Yesterday we approved a balanced 2023/24 City Council budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan at Executive Board. The proposals closed an overall budget gap for the next financial year of ?32.2m.

Like all councils, businesses and households, the City Council?s finances have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis created by soaring inflation on pay, fuel and energy costs. Other pressures, including vastly diminished Government grants over the last 13 years, have also made this another challenging year to set next year?s budget and a four-year financial plan.

The budget includes a range of proposals affecting services, including changes to adult social care, reviewing fees and charges for parking, cremation and burials, leisure centres and cafes, and reviewing grants to community groups, community centres and cultural organisations.

With ongoing issues of social care funding, local tax payers face an additional cost on their council tax bills and we have no real choice but to set the 4.99% Council Tax allowed by Government, which includes a supplement to help towards the increasing costs and demand for adult social care.

Sadly this will place a further burden on local people who we know are already struggling, and won?t raise enough to properly meet local needs. But we get just under ?100m a year less in general grant than we did a decade ago from the national government, which seriously affects our ability to provide the services local people need. That?s equivalent to ?694 for each household in our city ? we are being asked to fill that gap from Nottingham pockets and from savings from service areas.

We will continue to fight for a fairer deal for our city.

Our Medium Term Financial Plan identifies over ?10m of transformation investment to radically change the way the council operates, helping to achieve almost ?60m of savings, as well as temporary borrowing of ?20m of internal earmarked revenue reserves to strengthen the council?s financial resilience, to be repaid by 2026/27.

The budget will go to the meeting of the Full Council for final approval on Monday 6 March.

More here

Work on the new Bulwell bus station is on track and going well. The new bus station will open later this spring. Work so far includes:

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• Major drainage works to make sure heavy rain isn't an issue at the new bus station
• Kerb works are largely complete on the town centre side and works will swap to the other pavement in the coming weeks
• Work to build the new central island where the new bus shelters will be located will get underway next week.

Thank you for your patience during this time ? it will be worth the wait!

Find out more here?

With energy prices and household costs increasing, it is understandable that it can feel easier to ?avoid facing up to debt problems but leaving debt to mount up will only make it worse. If you?re struggling to pay your bills, it?s important to make sure you pay the most important ones first.? There are more serious consequences of not paying certain bills than there are for others.

Most suppliers have funds that can help pay off debt and sometimes help with your ongoing bills. If you?re struggling to pay your energy bills, check your supplier's website or give them a call

For advice and support if you?re struggling to pay your bills, including how to prioritise your bills and to see if you?re eligible for government support, visit www.asklion.co.uk/bills

It is World Book Day on March 2 and to get ready there are some events taking place at two of our libraries tomorrow (23 February).

Our friends from Small Steps Big Changes and Literacy Volunteers will be running stories, songs and crafts sessions at:?

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• Mary Potter Library, Hyson Green, 10.30-11.30am
• St Ann?s Valley Centre Library, 1.30-2.30pm.

Go along and you'll have the opportunity to collect a free fancy dress costume for your little one (one per child, while stocks last)

More here