Durham County Council has launched a consultation over plans to address a £64 million black hole in council finances over the next four years.

Residents in County Durham are being encouraged to have their say on the proposed solutions to balance the council's budgets in the coming years, with cuts likely.

The council's cabinet was recently informed of the expected budget shortfall, with £21.7 million of savings required in 2025/26, even if council tax is increased by the maximum 2.99 per cent.

The gap is larger than previously anticipated due to mounting unfunded budget pressures, which the council says are because of children's social care and home-to-school transport.

Additional pressures are expected from pay and price inflation, partly linked to anticipated National Living Wage increases over the next four years.

The council has already identified £3.2 million of savings for 2025/26 and £8.3 million of savings for the next four financial years, following a public consultation last year.

The cabinet has now agreed to another public consultation to continue identifying savings and determine which other services should be prioritised for savings to meet the £21.7 million gap.

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The council will also be asking for views on the proposal to increase council tax by a maximum of 2.99 per cent.

Councillor Richard Bell, Durham County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, said: "We continue to operate in a period of significant uncertainty and volatility.

"For next year and across the next four years, the budget setting process will be more difficult than it has been previously due to a range of external factors that are outside our control, including significant increases in inflation and increase in demand for services.

"We’re seeking people’s views on council tax levels and on areas where we should prioritise savings to augment the £3.2 million of savings proposals already agreed for next year.

"We’re also looking for views on what service areas we should continue to prioritise longer term, to achieve the £64.1 million in savings needed over the next four years."

Residents can participate in the six-week consultation, which closes at 5pm on November 1, by completing an online survey or obtaining paper surveys from libraries and customer access points.

For full details of the savings proposals, or to complete the online survey, visit www.durham.gov.uk/consultation.