Title

FINANCE

Airport windfall helps council reduce cuts

Extra revenue generated from Manchester City Council’s stake in the Manchester Airport Group has helped the authority scale back planned cuts.

Extra revenue generated from Manchester City Council's stake in the Manchester Airport Group has helped the authority scale back planned cuts.

The council has announced cuts of £30m over the next three years despite last autumn's warning they would have a budget shortfall of between £40m and £75m.

This is despite the Government's financial settlement leaving Manchester £1.2m worse off than anticipated though council tax will increase by 4.99% - including the 3% social care precept - in 2017/18 and 2018/19, and 1.99% in 2019/20.

Council leader, Sir Richard Leese, said: ‘The last few years have been very challenging for the council as we have had to deal with continuing cuts at the same time as increasing pressures on services.

‘This has been exacerbated by unfair government funding settlements, which have hit big cities such as Manchester the hardest.

‘We remain determined to do all we can, working with Manchester people and other partners, to continue to protect the vulnerable and give everyone the opportunity to share in the success of the city's growing economy.

'This budget process underlines this partnership approach as we attempt to strike the right balance which, inevitably, still involves some difficult decisions.'

 

FINANCE

The National Housing Bank: Will it help councils build?

By Jack Shaw | 21 November 2025

The question of whether the National Housing Bank becomes a central plank of housebuilding and renewal or a missed opportunity will depend on the choices the...

FINANCE

Fair funding review labelled a 'sham'

By Martin Ford | 20 November 2025

The fair funding review has been labelled a ‘sham’ by rural councils following its publication today.

FINANCE

EXCLUSIVE: Chiefs' pay slump

By Dan Peters | 20 November 2025

Chief executives’ advertised salaries drop below four-year inflation rate, The MJ’s data analysis reveals.

FINANCE

Boulevard of broken Budget dreams

By Jonathan Werran | 20 November 2025

Has the chancellor reached the end of the road? Jonathan Werran argues that financial redistribution to councils under Fair Funding 2.0 could mark the peak o...

Popular articles by William Eichler