TAX HIKE AND CARE CUTS
CITY’S BUDGET PLAN REVEALED:
A 3.7% council tax hike, huge cuts to social care and new fines are just some of the measures people living in Cardiff face next year.
Cardiff council has to cut £22.7m from its spending and residents have been warned to prepare for “difficult decisions” about where savings will come from.
The authority has published its list of areas where it suggests making savings.
The report, published today, shows it is considering plugging the budget gap by finding £14m of savings, adding £4.7m to the pot by upping council tax by a minimum 3.7% and spending £2.35m of its reserves.
There will also be job losses. The total figure is currently unknown, but the council says the number of jobs cuts will be “more than 20”.
Cabinet member Chris Weaver said it is guaranteed council tax will go up, and calculations were based on a rise of 3.7% – as it was last year – but he warned that figure could yet rise.
A list of 101 ways that the council plans to save money has now been published for the public to have their say.
It includes price rises at Cardiff International White Water Centre, Cardiff Dogs Home and in the cost of bereavement services.
There will be a phased increase in bus passes for schoolchildren, and a £50,000 reduction in the amount spent on new books.
The biggest provisional cuts, however, are in social care.
A review of the Community Resource Team – which works to reduce the length of hospital stays and helps provide support in people’s houses – will take place in a bid to save £1.2m.
The council says that by helping more people become independent, it can pay for less home care.
There will also be a change to the way any home care is delivered and a review of how and when people get social care reviews. That would also save an estimated £1.2m.
Further savings in social services could come from changing the way care home placements are funded, saving £450,000, and reducing the number of people who get care home places, saving £300,000.
Under the proposals, there could also be a review of the amount that relatives have to pay towards care packages, to save the authority £820,000.
Another £1.2m would be saved through “third party spend, changing processes, technology and staff resources”.
Council staff switching to more digital methods to communicate internally would be part of that £1.2m saving. The authority also wants to save money by carrying out functions with residents electronically – such as providing services over the internet or by email.
Council tax billing could be one service turned totally digital to save money.
A total of £210,000 could also be cut from the budget to support events and market the city.
And there would be a £973,000 saving by removing the subsidy for the international pool.
Cabinet member Chris Weaver said that when the agreement for the pool was drawn up there was a £1m subsidy for operators Parkwood for the first 10 years. That comes to an end next year.
He said it would now be down to the operator to determine costs.
St David’s Hall and New Theatre will all have a review of their costs and income while Cardiff Castle has a higher target of £280,000.
A subsidy will be removed for adult community learning and the council’s free newspaper In Cardiff will be stopped to save £37,000.
Elsewhere, new fees could be introduced to generate income – that could be a new penalty charge to move abandoned cars, a charge for a licence for smoking shelters and for businesses taking up space outside their premises for trade.
Ongoing changes to children’s play services would continue to save £115,000.
A report produced by corporate director Christine Salter says: “The significant and prolonged period of financial challenge that the council has faced over recent years makes difficult decisions inevitable.
“However, the draft budget upon which this consultation is based reflects the above priorities as far as possible in the current financial situation, with net investment in both schools and social services.
“While savings are inevitable, efforts are made to ensure that their impact on exist-
ing citizens and on future generations is minimised as far as possible, with reductions to front-line service delivery a last resort.
“Instead, wherever possible, savings are aimed at generating income, seeking to ensure value on external spend, looking for digital solutions, working with others, streamlining processes and implementing preventative measures. These general budget themes received support in the Ask Cardiff survey conducted this year.”
When the Welsh Government announced the funding for Wales’ 22 authorities, they were warned it would be an average decrease of 0.5%.
Cardiff will receive an increase in the money it receives in its grant from the Welsh Government.
It means an additional £954,000 for 2018-19. That includes £836,000 specifically for homelessness prevention.
The figure could change slightly as the details of some grants have not yet been calculated.
The UK Budget, which takes place on November 22, could also have an impact on Cardiff council’s proposals.
That could impact on the Welsh Block grant or public sector pay.
Consultation on these proposals will run until December 14.
Savings of £105m have been identified over the past three years with a further budget gap of around £73m to address over the next three years.
Coun Weaver said: “It’s important we are open and upfront about the choices we have to make.
“That’s why we want our residents to have their say. Clearly cuts will still have to be made and I believe people realise that. It’s important we prioritise key services and this consultation is the public’s chance to tell us what matters to them. I want to urge as many people as possible to get involved.
“Your council delivers services that affect everyone across the city – don’t miss this opportunity to have your voice heard.”
The consultation document will be online at www.cardiff.gov.uk/budget and hard copies will be available at libraries, leisure centres and hubs or residents can request a hard copy by emailing budget@ cardiff.gov.uk or ringing 029 2087 3854.