THE LEADER of Wrexham Council has said he is confident they will once again set a balanced budget in line with expected cuts.

The budget process is set to begin this month despite the setting of the council tax not being until next February.

In a statement on their website, a spokesperson for the council has said:

“As our Council Tax bills are dropping through our letterboxes following difficult financial challenges we are once again preparing to plan the budget for 2020/2022.

“A report to the next Executive Board highlights the scale of the financial challenge with a projected shortfall of approximately £9.8 million over the two years from 2020/21 to 2021/22, and asks members to agree the way forward to balancing the budget for the 2020/21 period.

“Called the budget process, it’s a way to ensure that all our councillors take part and have the opportunity to put their views across.

“It begins very early – this month in fact – and will continue throughout the year to the consultation process in the autumn and to the setting of the Council Tax in February.

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council, said: “It’s a process we go through every year and each year has become increasingly difficult to balance the budget, set the Council Tax and not reduce services to an unacceptable level.

“Next year will be no different and I am asking Executive Board to approve the dates for various workshops and consultations with stakeholders including the public at the end of the year.

“We have, once again, a huge task in front of us. We are being asked to make cuts of over £9m to our budget which is in addition to the £63 million already cut since austerity measures started. I am confident we will once again set a balanced budget in line with the expected cuts from Government.”