Councillors still to set a balanced budget

Councillors still to set a balanced budget 

West Lancashire Borough Council’s elected members have not set a balanced budget at the annual budget setting meeting on Wednesday 26 February 2025.   

Given the decision by Councillors to keep Nye Bevan and Park Pool leisure facilities open, the Director of Finance and Resource withdrew the budget setting report due to the increase of the budget gap from £2.11m to £3.39m in 2026/27 and a further increase to £4.11m the following year, which meant a balanced budget could not be set at that time.  

A balanced and legal budget still needs to be set before 31 March 2025, with Councillors now needing to again meet in the coming weeks to try and achieve this outcome by looking at all alternative options which will include additional cuts to council services and raising charges.