Cuts threat to mayor’s car
THE Mayor of West Lancashire could lose his official car – and attend fewer events – under budget cuts discussed by the council.
Residents and organisations in areas such as Ormskirk, Burscough and Skelmersdale are being invited to give their views on how West Lancashire Borough Council’s proposals for savings, efficiencies and increases in income totalling £310,000.
As well as making savings through a reduced role for the mayor, the local authority is also looking at:
Increasing a number of fees and charges each year, in line with inflation, including pest control, and some licensing fees, but not parking charges.
Increasing the charge for replacement wheelie bins from £23 to £25 to cover the cost of the bins.
A review of the way the council carries out street cleaning and maintenance.
Increasing bus station departure charges to bus companies from 7.5p to 50p per departure.
Reviewing the Home Care Link emergency response system, which runs at an annual deficit of around £70,000, to ensure it at least breaks even in the future.
Cllr Chris Wynn, portfolio holder for finance, said: “The council faces serious financial challenges which mean that each year we must make savings and find ways of increasing income.
“We appreciate that some of the proposals will impact on local people, grounds organisations and businesses, and so we are keen to seek their views.
“I urge residents and local organisations to take this opportunity to give us their comments on the proposals so we can take their views into account when we make decisions in October.”
The council is seeking views from individuals and organisations and is working with West Lancashire CVS to contact local voluntary and community groups, businesses, and other organisations to invite them to take part.
The council faces a budget gap in 2018/19 of about £1.9m because of reductions in government funding, and the loss of income from Lancashire County Council with the ending of the waste partnership agreement in 2018.
Efficiency measures totalling around £445,000 have already been identified to help meet the budget gap.
These include savings and general efficiencies over a range of services, budget streamlining savings, efficiencies from staff restructuring, use of balances to avoid the need to borrow at higher interest rates, and replacing printed refuse collection calendars with an online facility.
People can give their views through the website www.westlancs.gov.uk/ yourviews or by letter or and email.
The closing date for submitting responses is September 3 and the council will consider the results in October.