The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
£33M TOWN HALL AXE FALLS
Council tax set to rise by four per cent Services and grants cut in budget plans At least 75 jobs at risk in savings bid
At least 75 jobs could be lost at Peterborough City Council while funding to support the most vulnerable is set to be slashed by millions of pounds under proposals described as “vicious” by MP Lisa Forbes.
A four per cent hike on council tax is also set to hit local taxpayers in the pocket as the cash-strapped authority looks to tackle a £33 million deficit which it blames on government funding cuts and rising pressures on services.
However, despite pleading poverty it was revealed last week that the Conservativerun council has been spending £1,500 on councillors to attend the Royal Garden Party, while consultancy fees to deliver next year’s budget will cost £736,200.
Moreover, the proposals released on Friday will only deliver £24 million of savings – leaving a £9 million shortfall to be tackled in the new year.
Measures unveiled by the council include:
•Redu■da■cies of up to 75 jobs, while a similar number of contracted staff could also be laid off
Huge funding cuts to
• charities supporting the elderly, frail, disabled, young and poor
Delays in removing nonhazardous
• fly-tipping from two days until up to 10 days
Cuts to funding for leisure
• and culture trust Vivacity.
Ms Forbes, the MP for Peterborough, said: “These are vicious cuts that will impact our city massively and disproportionately impact some of the most vulnerable people.”
The council said an 80 per cent reduction in its main government grant means it has to focus on its statutory duties.
Cllr David Seaton, cabinet member for finance, said: “The financial challenge we have faced in recent times has been severe, but 2020/21 is our toughest challenge yet.
“We’re providing more temporary accommodation for people in housing need, more care packages for the elderly and vulnerable and there are more children requiring care placements and school places.
“Despite this we have continued to provide the vital services that residents rely upon and achieved many successes thanks to the dedication and passion of our staff, the creative ideas and use of resources that have been developed to deliver services in new and better ways and the leadership and commitment of our councillors.”
The council has identified up to 75 redundancies which a spokeswoman said will be “mainly back-office functions as well as roles that mainly carry out non-statutory functions in the communities and safety department”.
Moreover, an internal restructure will see a number of staff employed by its partner Serco also losing their jobs.
The council’s budget document reveals a £2.5 million annual saving which is related to falling staff costs, meaning the number of total redundancies could be more than doubled.
A Serco spokesperson said: “We understand the financial pressures that the council are under and are working with them in a constructive and collaborative way. At this stage nothing has been agreed.”
Under a 10-year contract which began in 2011, Serco took on the responsibility for a range of frontline and back-office council services, including customer services, business services and ICT.
However, the council believes technology can replace the jobs done by many staff.
On top of the redundancies, the council is also proposing to slash the £20 million annual Serco budget by a further £2 million a year.
Meanwhile, the four per cent rise in council tax – with two per cent ringfenced for adult social care – will generate an additional £2.8 million a year, with Band D taxpayers seeing a rise of nearly £55 a year on their bills.
It is just the latest hike for residentsaftercounciltaxrose by three per cent in 2019/20, six per cent in 2018/19, five per cent in 2017/18 and four per cent in 2016/17.
Labour’s council group leader Cllr Shaz Nawaz said “years of neglect” were to blame for the huge deficit, adding: “It was a ticking timebomb that was going to cause massive damage the longer it was delayed, dodged and dismissed.”
Werrington First group leader Cllr Steve Lane said: “The end of austerity, announced last year by Theresa May, with a supposed increased investment in public services, is all but dashed.”
Lib Dem group leader Cllr Nick Sandford said: “I am concerned that the council is not showing the right priorities.
“I have suggested alternative ways in which the council could save money, such as cutting herbicide usage, reduced grass cuttings and creation of woodland on less well used areas of council greenspace.”
“These are vicious cuts that will impact our city massively.”
Lisa Forbes