Fears that fresh Stoke-on-Trent City Council cuts could wipe out services
LEISURE centres, libraries and other popular council-run facilities could be axed by the end of the decade – and budget cuts are set to continue for another eight years.
Dire financial forecasts being used by Stoke-on-Trent City Council's finance chiefs indicate that the soaring cost of legal duties such as adult care, combined with continued Government funding cuts, will all but wipe out cherished community services.
The authority is making cuts of £24 million this year, following savings of £35.6 million in 2011/12, which have seen 1,000 redundancies and sweeping cuts to services.
Now, officers are drawing up plans for another round of budget cuts – even though they will not find out how much more Government funding they will lose next year until December.
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The Local Government Association (LGA) expects budget cuts to continue until 2020 and predicts a £16.5 billion funding shortfall will open up between the amount of money available to councils to provide services and the predicted cost of maintaining them at current levels.
Its "conservative estimates" even include increased income from annual council tax hikes of two per cent from 2013.
Peter Bates, the authority's assistant director of finance, told councillors the authority was pulling together "in a time of crisis".
He said: "We have been working on the next budget almost ever since the budget was set in February.
"Unfortunately, we still do not know what resources we will have through central Government and won't get that specification until December or January. What we are getting from the LGA is bleak. It is indicating that austerity measures will continue well beyond the next general election."
Mr Bates echoed the LGA's warning that services may face radical change, telling councillors: "Given the flow of change for the public sector, it is an opportune time that dialogue is opened up more fully with residents about the range of services a local authority can provide in future.
"It will be really difficult to balance the needs of local people and what we are able to provide. It's quite a complex landscape that elected members are going to have."
The LGA, which represents 373 councils in England and Wales, is calling for urgent reforms to social care funding to avert the crisis.
Clive Rushton, below, branch secretary for Unison Stoke-on-Trent, said: "Anybody in local Government across the whole of Britain is waiting and does not expect things to get better. I can't remember a budget in recent years where the amount they were going to spend went up.
"There is more pain to come before things get better.
"My worry is that it will impact on the services that the people of Stoke-on-Trent are going to get. The bottom line is that services cost money.
"We usually meet at the end of October to start consultation on the budget. My understanding is that officers are still working desperately on trying to put a budget together.
"I wouldn't like to have their job. If cuts are going to come, as we all expect, we are reaching the point where there is no meat left to trim. We are cutting into the bone."
LGA chairman Sir Merrick Cockell said: "By the end of the decade, councils may be forced to wind down some of the most popular services they provide unless urgent action is taken to address the crisis in adult social care funding."
Comments
by papalazaroo
Thursday, September 20 2012, 10:46AM
“That's quite a sob story from Peter Bates. Shame it has no credibility - with the council about to borrow £59m and unwilling to devolve power. It is scandalous, this city is run by accountants from behind their desks who've no affinity with this area's people or heritage, the councillors are spineless and supine, and when this recession is over SOT will just be a cultural wasteland, all its historical assets having been sold off.”
by gengar1
Thursday, September 20 2012, 8:13AM
“at the risk of being deluged by red arrows...
I dont think Stoke council does a good job at all and they certainly spend money on some dumb things etc etc
but it surely doesnt help when central government cut the money that they pass on to local authorities. I saw some figures from a few years ago and within this wider area (Newcastle, Moorlands, Cheshire East, Stafford etc),Stoke had the largest % of cut. The problem is that services then have to be decimated and whichever service they choose they will get slammed over. The youth service within Stoke council has been absolutely slaughtered for example.
Not defending setting up new offices, cos i think is a dumb idea. But central government are substantially culpable in all of this, not just local morons.
As for all of this "council officers riding the gravy train" garbage...cant speak for the senior ones, but im pretty sure the rank and file arent.”
by Jolyteddy
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 7:44PM
“Camband, it's the general councillors who need brain cells, as they seem to mindlessly do the bidding of the top pigs (Animal Farm reference), with only a few protesting on our behalf.”
by Justsuppose
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 6:38PM
“Too many officers with vested interests in outside companies, fleecing this city. Consultants who don't have to tender (Vanguard), developers who are only in it to milk the funds and grants, and so on. Please listen to us - NO ONE WANTS TO MOVE THE CIVIC CENTRE ... except of course, the council officers. It wasn't even an option till they realised their "city centre retail experiment" was doomed to failure, so the officers suggested/insisted/coerced/sulked/conned (take your pick) the council into the move.
It's a disgusting and shameful abuse of office, and they should ALL be thoroughly investigated.”
by ghosts
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 9:36AM
“Not surprised at all....this council knows only two words..cut and close...roll on the next polling day...”
by DJofTNE
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 9:09AM
“New building or community facilities?......you decide
I am sure the loss of facilites wont affect our fine councillors so why would they want to keep them?”
by truestokie
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 8:23AM
“I forgot about the hundreds of thousands spent on the Civic Centre in the past two years, that was highlighted by Dave Conway at the last council meeting.
Pervez and his monkeys need washing out of the council with Domestos, and control over Hackney and his crew regained.
Their ego trips are costing us a fortune.”
by camband
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 11:14PM
“by Jolyteddy
"It would help if they had a few brain cells." -unquote.
That's the problem -they have well above the average amount of brain cells. As did Hitler, Mussolini, and all the other self-promoting 'snug-fit' ego-maniacs.
It would help if those who voted in Pervez & co, had a few brain cells; who in turn gave ban de Larschott the job and ridiculous high salary that goes with it -
Too many brain cells and too little empathy -a lethal concoction.”
by yamahaman
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 8:15PM
“When will this lot get their heads from out of the sand and take a look around them, it seems like cut cut cut and spend spend spend, the only problem is they are cutting and spending on the wrong things. Cutting elderly care, youth services, loss of staff etc etc, but pushing on with yet another office building that it seems no one wants,and that we cannot afford. Is there no one within the council who is brave enough to say enough is enough.”
by truestokie
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 7:39PM
“Dire financial forecasts being used by Stoke-on-Trent City Council's finance chiefs
Is this the same crew that invested in Landsbank costing us £5million, or the same ones that offered a company £1.6million to knock down Westcliffe Hospital when they could get it done for £300,000?
The same ones that need (and can't seem to get) more qualified officers.
Maybe its because they have heard about the pitfalls of working here, and could land up in Police cells?”