Public have say on Cambridgeshire council's 'challenging' budget
More than £1 billion is planned to be spent over the next year
Today's your last chance if you want to have a say on Cambridgeshire County Council's budget plans for this year.
In its budget proposals for 2025-26, the authority aims to increase its portion of the council tax bill by 4.99%, as well as invest more than £1 billion on services such as improving highways and adult social care.
The council said that rising demand for its services and the costs of these "continues to impact the county council's available funding", which it said has led to making "difficult choices about where we spend and where we make savings."
Loveland Tawiah owns PC OK in Chatteris, who's seen footfall in his shop down by 25% on last year.
"I think we need some improvements in the high street for the businesses, like parking for people to be able to park (near the shop)," he said.
"It's tough for everybody at the moment in terms of business.
"If we can get the high street moving, every business here will benefit but currently, we're not getting the flow of footfall."
Part of the plans include spending £21m on fixing the county's roads, footpaths, cycleways and drainage systems during the next year, and an extra £20m the year after.
While £20m is due to be spent over the next three years to support providers of adult social care services to pay care workers the Real Living Wage.
However, the council said it has a budget gap of £34.2m which "needs to be closed".
Potholes, education and helping the homeless
Some people in Cambridgeshire have told Greatest Hits Radio what concerns them the most.
"What I'd like to see them (the council) do is get to grips with the contracts they let out to make sure they're getting the best value for money they can," one woman in St Neots said.
"Education - make sure the schools are there, the facilities are there before thousands more people come to live here," another said.
In Chatteris, one person believes "more shops should open here", another feels "the potholes are absolutely diabolical" while there are calls to help "the homeless so they're not in the doorways as it's been rather cold".
Budget will be 'challenging'
Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, Liberal Democrat group leader and leader of the county council, said the 2025-26 budget “is going to be challenging.
“Although we do not receive the funding from Government to meet the needs of the growing population in Cambridgeshire, we are committed to ensuring the council delivers value for money in the services it provides.”
Cllr Elisa Meschini, deputy council leader and leader of the council's Labour group, said "no one wants to put council tax up, but we've had to consider some really tough choices and we're pleased that over half of residents who responded to our engagement survey support this 4.99% increase."
Cllr Tom Sanderson, leader of the Independent group on the council, said the budget proposals "underline our commitment to alleviating the impact of poverty across Cambridgeshire."
The public consultation results on the budget are due to be discussed at a county council meeting later this month.