Labour group leader Imran Khan called the proposals the “smallest budget I’ve ever seen go out to consultation”, adding that “most decisions have already been made”.
The meeting heard criticism of Khan’s previous Labour administration over financial difficulties that required government support and £391m in borrowing.
Defending his party’s record, Khan said Conservative austerity had reduced the council’s budget by £350m a year.
There was an extended exchange between Khan and Ian Eglin, the executive’s corporate resources portfolio holder, who said: “Yes there was a long period where the council was underfunded, but the issues were due to Labour not watching what was going on. It shouldn’t have got to this situation.”
Khan replied: “Labour put a plan in place (to achieve financial stability) – you’re following that plan. Bradford is coming out of financial support two years early – that didn’t happen in the last six months.”
The meeting heard the council has made £150m in savings over three years and hopes to end its dependence on additional government support two years earlier than anticipated.
The council also faced questions about potential job losses, with between 20 and 99 redundancies thought to be on the cards. The meeting heard these would likely come from efficiencies being planned in “locality” and adult social care services.
Stephen Mair, the authority’s interim strategic director of corporate resources, said the authority “will do everything we can” to “ensure any human impact is minimised”. He said talks with trade union representatives are already underway.
Speaking after the meeting, Place pointed to an inherited £120m deficit but acknowledged recovery work had begun under Labour, saying abandoning existing measures would have been “very imprudent”.
“It’s not easy, but I believe that the decisions that have been taken are very deliverable,” he said.
The savings plan also assumes a 4.99% council tax increase, although Place said no final decision had been taken. Asked whether the council tax increase could be higher then 4.99%, Place said: “Definitely not more.”
Further budget details, including the final council tax levels, would follow in the coming weeks, he said.
