Timetable for budget preparation

The timetable for preparing an annual budget typically starts 14 months beforehand:

• February to June – senior council employees consider their spending pressures for the following financial year
• July – Cabinet sets out its initial financial guidelines for the next financial year
• During September and October – council leaders and senior council employees meet to discuss the proposed budget
• During November and December – councils receive initial Revenue Support Grant figures from central government
• During December and January – the Cabinet refine their financial plans and policies for the next financial year
• February – the council approves its annual budget and policy plan for the next financial year, and approves the amount to collect from council tax
• April – the new financial year starts and the new budget will be published on this website