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‘Live now, pay later’ budget under attack
The council intends to spend just over £563m during 2012-13 to provide its services - a 4.4 per cent fall on the current figure.
But faced with grant cuts and falling income in some areas, the Labour-run administration has decided to take £6.9m from the council’s general fund reserves - which currently stand at £24m.
It is a move strongly opposed by Tory councillors who have attacked Labour’s spending proposals as a “live now, pay later” budget. Coun Andrew Carter, Conservative group leader, said: “This figure (£6.9m) is far too high, and coupled with an over-dependence on one-off sources of funding puts the council’s financial security on shaky ground.”
His alternative spending plan - to take only £3m from reserves and make up the difference through efficiency savings and use of a contingency fund - was defeated by Labour at the council’s annual budget meeting. Budget amendments put forward by the Liberal Democrat group - including a cut to the 65p mileage rate paid to some staff to raise money for park and ride schemes - were also defeated.
Coun Keith Wakefield, council leader, pointed out Tory government ministers had said it was wrong to sit on reserves while services were being cut.
During 2012-13 the council is looking to save £55m to help it cope with government grant cuts and other spending pressures, particularly in adult social care and children’s services. This comes on top of £90m in savings the authority is on course to make during the current financial year.
During the next 12 months the council will shed up to 400 more jobs and increase the price of some services, while also spending more on vulnerable adults and children.
Council house rents will rise by 6.8 per cent.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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