Proud of our achievements - but work still to do

Salford continues to be a successful proposition for investors, developers and businesses to create the jobs we need for our residents. We are proud of developments such as 100 Embankment and New Bailey and the opportunities they bring to the city. We continue to build much needed social and affordable housing through the council’s development company Dérive.

We remain committed to developing our heritage, culture, leisure and greenspaces with works started to secure Buile Hill mansion for future generations, the launch of Swinton Greenway last year and expanding the opportunities available to young people in Salford through the creation of a brand-new Youth Zone. These are all achievements in which we can take pride. At the same time the economic and social structures have come near to collapse, with the cost-of-living crisis permeating every area of our lives.

In these tough times it falls on the council and partner agencies to try and support residents who are hit the hardest. We are maintaining our core services on which you rely, despite a reduction in funding.

We are also indebted to the many local voluntary organisations which have provided key services to people in need and warmth and comfort.

We are creating a Cost-of-Living Crisis Fund to help those in need, maintaining the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, along with Better Off, the Welfare Right and Debt Advice and Salford Assist services which ensure all our residents can access the full financial benefits they are entitled to.

We are investing more in adult social care, including a commitment to deliver the Real Living Wage and a decent pay award to those working in this sector. Increased funding will help us address delays in discharge, reduce social care waiting times and, through better pay, address capacity.

I am particularly proud we have been able to budget for an increase in allowances paid to foster carers who provide the best possible start for our most vulnerable children. This will be one part of our new commitment to make Salford a child friendly city.

It isn’t enough to do everything that is needed in social care and I call on government to provide a fair and equitable solution to meeting the costs of social care. None of these are sufficient for long term sustainable financial planning. It goes nowhere near far enough to reverse 13 years of continuous cuts to our budget, the rising costs of goods and services, and the increasing demand for council services, particularly social care.

Since 2010, we have seen almost £240 million taken from the city council’s core budget. And government calculations of spending power once again continue to shift responsibility for funding essential core services to local people through council tax and precepts.

City Mayor Paul Dennett