As reported on this site in February there was motion passed by Medway Council protesting that while they were facing a cut in Government grant the UK's budget contribution is rising by 60%. With the encouragement of the Direct Democracy campaign several other councils have adopted with an equivalent wording. They list Adur District Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, […]
A survey for the Sunday Telegraph of job advertisements has found that councils have created over 4,000 new posts since the new government came to power. It found 205 councils have created 4,148 new positions since May. The new jobs range from those concerned with "wellbeing" and "life skills" also a "boom" in such jobs as "walking […]
Conservative-run Medway Council has halved its funding for trade unions savings £46,000. The money saved will be used to but extra library books. The decision has won the approval of the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles as the following exchange from Hansard makes clear: Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con): Will the Secretary of State join […]
An interesting survey by the Local Government Association of Finance Directors of all 349 councils in England asking where the axe will fall. Just over half were amending downwards the terms of their redundancy schemes. 58% of councils were targeting "Central Services" (admin) for proportionately greater savings. That's good, I suppose. But my modest grasp […]
Glyn Gaskarth says more should be done to expose the contrast of how Conservative and Labour councils cope with cuts Neil Kinnock's 1985 conference speech criticised some Labour councils for playing politics with people’s jobs and people’s lives. Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, recently made a similar charge. Why do members of the […]
Labour-run Manchester City Council has confirmed its reputation as the most cynical council in Britain. This the a motion submitted for their next council meeting. The deadline was Monday: 13. Motion – George Osborne’s Budget Council notes the damaging impact of George Osborne’s budget on the people of Manchester. Signed by: Councillors: Leese (proposer), Karney […]
A vision of 'self-funded' councils that keep their local business taxes with central grant dependence scaled back except where it is needed to protect the interest of taxpayers is being put forward today by Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles. The first phase of a review of council resources is being launched today to consider ways […]
The Isles of Scilly is a small, quiet island community 30 miles off the South West tip of Cornwall. Known for it's gentle pace of life, clean air and pristine beaches, it seems that not even this community of 2,000 people has escaped the excesses of local government spending. Jobs at the Town Hall include […]
Following on from the recent Calderdale Council meeting which set a budget that will see; charges for the Care of Elderly up 33%, charges for leisure facilities up 25%, charges for car parking up 20% and library resources cut by £250,000, local Conservatives have criticised the council’s failure to reduce the annual subsidy it pays […]
Tonbridge and Malling Council is avoiding any cuts to front line services by finding efficiency savings and having planned ahead. Furthermore they are using the New Homes Bonus to increase support for the voluntary sector. The Council leader, Cllr Mark Worrall says, in a Conservative leaflet being distributed to all residents next week: WE WILL […]
Camden Council's budget debate, on 28 February 2011, saw Labour present a budget that would result in the closure of nurseries, early play services, libraries, day centres for the old, information centres, sports centres and more. Labour also plans to slash money to the voluntary sector, to mental health services and a host of other […]
Richmond Council is to save a £100,000 a year by merging its legal department with Merton Council. Cllr Geoffrey Samuel, the Deputy Leader of Richmond Council, says: “Bringing our lawyers together with Merton’s is an example of how we can protect our frontline services by taking a critical look at how our back office works. “Cutting […]
Wirral Council, run by a Conservative/Lib Dem coalition since Labour lost power in May, is freezing Council Tax while investing in extra cash in front-line services Wirral’s Cabinet has announced plans that will see Council Tax frozen, support for the ‘Big Society’ enhanced and extra cash invested in services such as Sure Start, libraries and supporting […]
On Wednesday, Labour-run Leeds City Council, with the support of the Green Party, voted through a budget to cut services. The Council meeting was delayed by two hours after around 100 protesters occupied the council chamber and had to be removed by police. £90 million in savings this year had to be found – around half of […]
Cllr Royston Smith, Leader of Southampton City Council, on how councils can protect leisure centre, libraries and other front line services from the cuts There is a credible alternative to front line job losses and the resultant loss of services. It means public servants making sacrifices to help save the services they provide. Many local authorities […]