Have your say on Uttlesford District Council's budget

Each year, the council has to prepare a budget and decide how much should be allocated for the range of services the council provides to the community.

These include bin collections, housing, homelessness prevention, licensing, planning and administration of benefits, as well as how much support should be given to community groups, local businesses and other services across the district.

Preparing the budget takes many months, and holding a consultation to gather views from residents on how and where the council's resources should be allocated is an important part of the process.

Cllr Neil Hargreaves, portfolio holder for finance (Image: Residents For Uttlesford) Cllr Neil Hargreaves, Uttlesford District Council's portfolio holder for finance, said: "2025/26 will be a year of unprecedented uncertainty for local government, especially for shire authorities such as Uttlesford, which are expecting a large reduction of funding due to government shifting resources away towards areas of urban deprivation.

"Councils are also required to budget for the next five years. There is however uncertainty over potential devolution of further responsibilities to local government, and also the likelihood of local government reorganisation for the first time in 50 years.

"As such, this draft budget is provisional and has been put together as prudently as possible to protect core local services.

"For 2025/26 it balances incomes with expenditures and a small use of reserves to set provision for any further government announcements.

"We would welcome the views of our residents and businesses on how much they think we should be spending on the services we provide and what our priorities should be."

The annual budget consultation is open to all, and the easiest way to complete it is online at www.uttlesford.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2025-26.

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For residents who do not have access to the internet, paper copies are available by calling 01799 510510.

The consultation closes on Sunday, January 12.

All the comments received will be considered as part of the final budget proposals, which will be debated and voted on by members in February.

The new budget will be in place from Tuesday, April 1.