B&NES Council Scrutiny Panel met at the Guildhall, Bath, on Tuesday, 23rd January where they heard from Director of B&NES 3SG, Becky Brooks following the Council’s proposals to cut funding for local charities in their proposed budget for 2024-2025.

A cut of £802,000 has been proposed in the Council’s budget for 2024-2025, which is a decrease of 21.4%, posing a significant risk to essential services across B&NES, whilst other sectors face only 5%.

If they were to go ahead, the cuts would significantly affect homeless charities, such as DHI and Julian House, who help thousands of people across B&NES.

Addressing the panel, 3SG said: “As the infrastructure organisation supporting and advocating for the third sector in B&NES, 3SG is extremely concerned about the proposed savings to the budget for both Children’s services and Adult Community contracts.

“We were disappointed with the timing of the consultation period being held over Christmas and New Year. This meant a loss of vital days of which organisations had to galvanise themselves and respond in a measured and appropriate way.

“The details of the required savings provided by the Council have been limited and has left the sector feeling insecure and vulnerable with a lack of certainty around future provision. The Third Sector organisations across B&NES support tens of thousands of the most vulnerable people and employ thousands of staff, many of whom are local citizens contributing to the local ecosystem, this is now at risk.

“It is a challenge for the sector to make any meaningful plans for this next financial year and many organisations do not know whether they can continue to provide the central services and whether they are able to commit to employing staff.

“The wider impact of these savings on sector partners such as primary care and mental health trusts cannot be overestimated; service providers who currently rely on end to end care and support pathway in order to support people to stay healthy and well in their community. The core values of the Council and the ICB focussing on the wider determinants of health and early intervention and prevention will be significantly undermined by this proposal if we lose these vital services.

“...With both the cost of living and need rising, it is essential the Third Sector is invested in and so easing pressure on local authorities on primary care and emergency services.

“…We are fully aware of the financial challenges the Council face, however, we implore decision makers to provide more information on these proposals and to actively involve the sector on such decisions. Third Sector partners need to be at the table, rather than have decisions made for them. The Sector knows it’s services and can work with Council colleagues to develop creative solutions which will ensure minimum disruption, remove service duplication, reduce the risk of job losses and the potential loss of services which will ultimately increase the Council and statutory sectors costs.”

The budget will go before the Council Cabinet on February 8th and be voted on by a meeting of the Full Council on February 20th.