Spending cuts to continue in battle to balance books

Spending cuts in Canterbury will continue into a third decade as funding from central government continues to be slashed, a senior officer has warned.

Tricia Marshall, the authority’s director of resources, says the government’s failure to reduce the national deficit means it will continue to impose reductions on local authorities.

And council leader Simon Cook adds that Canterbury is repeatedly asked to find savings because it has successfully found them in past.

Members of the city council’s policy and resources committee met last week to discuss its budget proposals for the financial year 2017/18.

They include raising its portion of the council tax by 2.5% for a band D property and finding savings of £2.2 million over the next financial year.

Ms Marshall told councillors: “This year’s budget continues the theme of previous years with reductions in funding from cen- tral government.

“We have accepted the government’s four-year funding deal so there is a bit more certainty around the figures going forward to 2020/21.

“But, in summary, it’s been a very challenging year for the council. It’s a very similar picture to last year and the years before and we don’t expect that to change up to 2020/21.

“Given the government’s need to reduce the deficit and the slower than expected progress the government is making in reducing the deficit, I suspect that we would be expected to make further savings after 2020/21.”

Earlier this month the council revealed it would need to find reductions in spending of 42% over the next four years.

Cllr Cook says this amounts to “accelerating upheaval” for the council and the way it operates.

“Without doubt, the ability to balance our budget is becoming harder and harder each year,” he said.

“Since 2012, we have responded to the challenging financial situation by reviewing how we provide services, and this work will continue, but residents should be under no illusion that this approach can last forever.

“After 2019, it is highly likely that operational savings will no longer be enough.

“Services will be under threat and some very difficult decisions will need to be taken.”

The authority’s latest budget had been put out to public consultation. Submissions can be submitted before January 3 at www.canterbury.gov.uk/budgetconsultation.

Tricia Marshall