Back in February, Wrexham Council identified a financial shortfall of £33.6 million for the financial years 2026/27 to 2028/29, and agreed a Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) looking at ways to address it.
This shows that the next three years will continue to be challenging for local government. This is because demand for services for the most vulnerable continues to outpace any reasonable expectation for funding that can be raised locally, along with national funding settlements that do not address the scale of the issue. For example, the increase in demand and types of service needs for children – whether that is schools, special education, social care or transport – presents a clear risk to the financial stability of Wrexham, and other councils.
The council will continue to mitigate financial risks and endeavour to produce sustainable budgets within this challenging context.
To do this, the council will continue its change programme. This change programme will be key to identifying options as a key part of the budget strategy and service delivery strategy over the next 2-3 years.
This is where we would like your input. For each council department, our suggested approach to the current challenges has been included in our survey which is live on the council’s engagement website Your Voice Wrexham; so that you, as residents, can let us know if you agree with the way we think we can move forward.
Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of the council and lead member for finance, said: “Until there is a national recognition of local government’s financial position, and the wider impact of the demand for social care, councils across Wales will continue to be at risk of becoming financially unsustainable.
“Elected members and council officers are working together to find more efficient and modern ways of delivering services, but it is not an easy task.
“It is important that we hear the thoughts of Wrexham residents and it is they that will be affected, and that is why I ask that as many people as possible let us know their thoughts via the engagement portal.”
This engagement is open until December 7.
You can visit Your Voice Wrexham to let us know your thoughts or you can email yourvoice@wrexham.gov.uk, write to yourvoicewrexham, 3rd Floor Annex, Guildhall, Wrexham, LL11 1AY or call 01978 292270 to request a printed copy of the form, including other formats such as braille.
