Essex County Council announces £88 million of budget cuts

Analysis of the Essex County Council approved budget shows that £87.9 million of cuts were approved by the Conservative-run authority last Thursday, 9th February 2023. The cuts are made up of:

• £18.8 million of identified cuts in cash spending
• £36 million of cuts in cash spending still to be found
• £33.1 million of cuts in capital (investment) spending

The biggest cuts in the cash budgets see the Early Years and Garden Communities budgets slashed by almost half and the Environmental Strategy budget almost vanishes (a 93% cut!).

The biggest cuts in capital (investment) spending (of around half) are in Partnerships, Sport & Youth; Devolution, Heritage & trade, Economic investment and Active Travel. Road maintenance is cut by 18% for the coming year, but by 2025-6 is HALF the current budget - a shocking reduction from £43 million to £21.5 million. The budget for active/sustainable travel is abolished in 2024/25.

Lib Dem Leader, Cllr. Mike Mackrory, commented: "This level of cuts is quite shocking. You would never have guessed it from all the fine words that we heard from the Conservative Leader. Residents told the Council that fixing roads and pavements was a top priority, yet over the next two years the investment budget for roads will be HALVED.

"The Lib Dem alternative budget proposed extra spending on

• Road / pavement maintenance (including keeping the Highway Ranger service) and other vital infrastructure
• Mental health and social care of young people
• Supporting people with the cost of living crisis
• More help for families and older people

Lib Dem budget details here.

Full details of the Conservative budget cuts (as set out in the budget book on the County Council website)