Mansfield Council plans sweeping cuts to public services and council tax hike in £5m budget crisis

Mansfield council's cabinet is proposing a "series of measures" to address a GBP2.176m budget deficit for 2024/25 - including a rise in council tax, the closure of some public toilets, and an increase in housing rents. Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276

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The measures will include a 2.99 per cent rise in council tax and an increase in housing rents of 7.7 per cent. Under the plans, residents will also see:

• Reduced opening hours at Mansfield Museum;
• Budget cuts for Mansfield Market;
• Public toilet closures;
• Less funding for public events (no further details have been made available);
• Fewer floral displays in the town centre;
• Fewer grants for businesses and organisations.

Mansfield Council on Civic Centre, Chesterfield Road South.

The council's magazine, My Mansfield also faces the axe.

The medium-term financial plan (MTFP) also sets out a savings plan to meet a projected continued shortfall in funds of GBP5m to 2026/27. The budget proposals show a use of reserves in 2024/25 only. In a report from the portfolio holder for corporate and finance to cabinet, to be considered on January 15 in a public meeting, proposals have also been made to deliver a number of efficiencies across various council departments to save money.

Mansfield Museum, located on Leeming Street, will face reduced opening hours.

Mansfield council is due to agree its annual budget and medium-term financial plan at the meeting of the full council on January 23.

Mayor Andy Abrahams[2] said: "It has been well documented that we have some tough choices to make so that the council has long-term financial stability. "Like many councils, Mansfield has experienced a reduction in government funding, coupled with the increased inflation and costs of delivering services, we must find efficiencies. "These have been tough decisions to make and we are very mindful that this will have an impact on our workforce and require huge transformational changes.

Andy Abrahams, Mayor of Mansfield.

"We know that our colleagues are ready for the challenge and are determined to make the council a successful organisation that meets the needs of the people it serves."