Concern over lack of public feedback on budget cuts
ONLY 700 HAVE SENT RESPONSES
COUNCILLORS fear that not enough Nottingham residents have taken part in a consultation over new budget cuts which they fear will be “extremely detrimental” to the city.
In November, Nottingham City Council drafted a new set of budget proposals, aspects of which are now in a period of consultation.
The first phase addresses £12.2m (or 44 percent) of the £28m target and the council will reveal additional proposals in the coming weeks for a further £15.7m in savings.
There are five key aspects of these savings;
Reducing youth and play services, saving £615,000
Closing six of the city’s nine children’s centres, moving to a “hub” model, saving £331,000.
Reducing the frequency of some Linkbus services and increasing Medilink fares, saving £371,000.
Introducing charges for second and third parking permits, saving £412,500.
Introducing a charge for bulky waste collections, saving £80,000.
The proposals come as a Government-appointed improvement and assurances board keeps watch over the council’s road to financial recovery, with tensions rising more recently amid the discovery of “unlawful” payments totalling £15m.
A large part of appeasing the Government and preventing the arrival of commissioners is reducing capital spending and collecting money from the selling of assets, which tend to return a considerable capital receipt.
To achieve this the council has also agreed a borrowing cap.
Councillor David Mellen, leader of the city council, who represents the Dales ward, said the improvement board had been “quite complimentary” about authority’s the efforts to bring in cash from selling assets.
Furthermore, reviews into the council’s companies are also taking place, with Enviroenergy being brought “in-house” recently as part of this process.
Reviews of other companies – such as construction firm Thomas Bow – are continuing and Councillor Mellen emphasised there must be a “balance between moving quickly and doing it thoroughly”.
Concern was, however, raised over the effectiveness of the period of consultation in letting city residents voice their opinions on the new budget proposals.
During a scrutiny committee meeting at Loxley House on Wednesday, Councillor Mellen said there had been 700 individual responses so far.
That was “more than we’ve ever had before,” he said.
But Xouncillor Carole Mcculloch, who represents Aspley and sits on the scrutiny committee, said: “So we are happy with 700 out of all the residents in Nottingham?
“I know you say it is more [than usual] but 700 does not seem like a lot to me.
“The impact of what these cuts will be having is going to affect everybody of every age in the city and, because it is not directed at what could be cut, only the budget proposals are written down, you cannot actually see the impact it is going to have in the communities because it isn’t written like that.”
Councillor Mellen responded: “I agree with you that some of the things we are having to do are extremely detrimental. I believe young people are being hit really hard in what is being proposed.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to be satisfied with any particular number. All I’m saying is we have tried to do different things than we have done in the past.
“There is always more we can do.”
Details of how to voice your opinion can be found at: nottinghamcity. gov.uk/engage-nottingham-hub/ budget-202223-consultation-page
The impact of what these cuts will be having is going to affect everybody of every age in the city Councillor Carole Mcculloch