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Resolved: At the end of the petition period
Peterborough is a city of opportunity with a bright future.
However, like any organisation, we must continually modernise and adapt the way we deliver our services to meet our current demands. As a result, we have begun the process to revisit our Corporate Strategy.
Like all local authorities, we continue to face ongoing financial pressures. It is essential that we reach and maintain a position of financial sustainability.
Our net revenue budget is in the region of £220m per annum. The demand for services in the current year and over the life of the Medium Term Financial Strategy is significantly higher. This means there is a constant challenge to deliver services within budget.
There are a number of key areas driving this pressure, including:
- Interest rates remaining high, impacting on the cost of borrowing
- A rise in demand for services such as children's social care placements, adult social care packages and temporary accommodation due to homelessness presentations
These challenges include:
- The number of people coming to us for housing support as they’re homeless rose 40% from an average of 51 a week in 2021/22 to 70 a week in 2023/24.
- In the current year, we are expecting to exceed our home to school transport budget by £1.1m due to increasing numbers of children with special education needs and disabilities who require transport to and from school.
- In adult social care, we received 2,580 new requests for support in the last 12 months - 18% more than the previous 12 months.
- The number of children subject to a care plan has doubled since last year (277 in March 2024, 136 in March 2023).
- High interest rates mean we are refinancing debt at much higher rates, which is costing us an extra £2.5m each year.
We are currently facing an in-year overspend of around £10m. We estimate that the budget gap in 2025/26 could range between £13.2m and £24.3m. Peterborough does not have the reserves balances available to fund this overspend. Getting to a balanced position is imperative.
It is therefore essential that we continue to find ways to transform our services and deliver savings where possible. Our workforce is integral in this transformation process, and it is important that all our stakeholders understand and accept that we cannot continue to provide everything we have provided in the past.
As reflected in our values, we are committed to being bold and innovative, we respect our people and communities, and we keep our promises. In fact, we will be as bold to say that, due to our funding pressures, we cannot deliver everything we used to.
This is why we need your help in making sure our Corporate Strategy priorities are chosen wisely.
We are holding a consultation between 18 September and 27 October 2024 to give you the chance to have your say.
View our Corporate Strategy priorities
Our core priorities are:
- Economy and inclusive growth
- Creating a sustainable future
- Prevention, independence and resilience
- Children and young people
We have published a draft set of priorities which fall under the above four main overarching priorities. It is these that we are consulting on.
Please view the draft priorities in our draft Corporate Strategy 2024-27 (opens PDF).
How to take part in the consultation
We want to hear from you. Help shape the future of our city.
Tell us what priorities are important to you, how you want us to spend public funds and improve the services we provide.
Let us know your feedback and ideas through the following options below.
Our consultation closes on 27 October 2024.
Online survey
Complete the Shaping Our City online survey.
Social media polls
To join in with our social media polls, please join the Shaping Our City Facebook group.
You can also watch out for some polls on our LinkedIn, X and Instagram accounts.
Public engagement sessions
We are holding a number of public engagement sessions as part of the consultation. We would like as many people as possible to attend.
At the sessions, there will be a presentation about the process to refine our Corporate Strategy and our financial position. Attendees will have the opportunity to give their opinions and ask questions.
You don't need to book a place to attend.
- Tuesday 24 September 2024, 6pm to 8pm at Arthur Mellows Village College, Glinton
- Wednesday 2 October 2024, 7pm to 9pm at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Peterborough Campus, City Centre
- Thursday 3 October 2024, 6pm to 8pm - this session will take place online - further details to follow
- Monday 7 October 2024, 7pm to 9pm at Wellsprings Community Church, The Alpha Centre, Adderley, Bretton
- Tuesday 8 October 2024, 7pm to 9pm at CSK Hampton Church, Silver Hill, Hampton Centre
- Monday 14 October 2024, 7pm to 9pm at Focus Community Centre, Chestnut Avenue, Dogsthorpe
- Monday 21 October 2024, 7pm to 9pm at Salvation Army Citadel, 1203 Bourges Boulevard, New England
- Tuesday 22 October 2024, 7pm to 9pm at Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Orton
- Wednesday 23 October 2024, 7pm to 9pm at Stanground Academy, Peterborough Road, Stanground
What happens after the consultation
Our Cabinet will consider comments made as part of the consultation at a meeting on 3 December 2024.