Council budget consultation – until 4 December

The council currently spends £97.2 million per year to deliver a broad range of services in Cambridge. The council’s operating costs are paid for mainly from the income the council generates from fees and charges, Council Tax and Business Rates, commercial property rent, and Government grants.

In September, the council recommitted to saving £6 million annually by April 2026, outlining that £2.5 million could be saved by making changes to the council’s organisational structure, and £3.5 million by making changes to council services, such as implementing or increasing charges for some services.

Charging is already in place for several council services (such as car parking and leisure activities), which is an important source of income that brings in around £23 million every year to help cover operating costs. Without this income, many services would have to stop.

The council is considering increasing fees and charges in some areas or starting to charge for some services which are currently free at the point of use. This would exclude any services that the council is required by law to provide for free (such as offering homelessness support).

The consultation relates to the £3.5 million that could be saved by increasing fees and charges for council services, and by making changes to some of the discretionary services it offers. 

The survey includes questions such as:

• Should the council consider reintroducing charging for parking in its car parks after 6pm?
• Should the council charge higher prices for non-Cambridge residents who use the council swimming pools? 
• Should the council reduce the overall number of public toilets it manages?
• Should the council reduce the frequency of mowing and leaf collection in some areas?
• Should the council consider reducing the amount spent on CCTV cameras?
• Should the council consider redeveloping or selling commercial properties that generate the least income?

The short survey can be taken online at cambridge.gov.uk/budget between now and midnight on Wednesday 4 December. To request the survey in another format please call 01223 457000.

There are two additional surveys which have also been launched today, asking more detailed questions about any changes to car park provision and fees; and public toilet provision and fees. These surveys are linked to from the Budget survey for those who would like to feed back on these topics in greater detail. You can also take these surveys on their own by visiting cambridge.gov.uk/parking-charges and cambridge.gov.uk/toilets.