Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet backs budget plans
Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet has backed budget proposals to freeze council tax and launch a two year £15m investment programme targeting two key concerns for local people - the environment and rising youth unemployment in the borough.
The Council will also cut a further £22m pa by 2016 from its budget in the wake of continuing cuts in Government grant. This follows the Council already making £51m of savings since 2009/2010.
Telford & Wrekin Council says that it will do all it can to protect frontline services, but warns that further cuts over the next two years are inevitable.
Among the savings proposed by the Council are cutting spend on social care support packages, reducing the number of residential placements for children, a review of the Council’s integrated transport which will be consulted on later in 2014 and cutting around £3m from the Council’s wage bill on top of the 1,075 jobs already lost at the council.
The Council also proposes to create a £15m two year investment fund by rescheduling debt and the effect of savings being made early.
People can give their views on freezing council tax and the investment priorities using an online questionnaire at www.telford.gov.uk/budget or by returning a freepost questionnaire from the Council’s residents’ publication Your Voice.
Cllr Bill McClements, cabinet member for finance and enterprise, said: “This budget sets out our stall for the next two years.
“We have some very difficult decisions ahead because we cannot make the savings that we must find following further cuts in government funding without affecting services, particularly for services for children and vulnerable adults, which account for such a large part of our budget.
“But we believe this budget will help people from being squeezed by rising living costs, while over the next two years addressing two key areas that residents tell us are very important for them – creating greater pride in our borough by improving roads and tackling the scourge of youth unemployment.
“Both will be key in our plans to ensure that this borough remains a place where jobs and businesses can continue to grow.
“I urge people to get involved and give us their views whether this is online, through Your Voice or by coming to our special budget consultation event at the Oakengates Theatre at 6pm on January 29 – we want to know what you think.”
