Council budget cut by £184m in the last 11 years
... and there are more savings to come
ROCHDALE Borough Council have revealed that in the past 11 years, the budget has been reduced by £184m.
The council is now consulting residents on the latest round of savings proposals which are required to balance the authority’s budget due to a continuing shortfall in government funding, the ongoing costs of the pandemic and increased demand for services.
The first three proposals include changing and increasing the charges for some adult care services, reviewing the work of the neighbourhood cohesion and community engagement service as well as reviewing the Rochdale town centre warden enforcement service.
Council leader Allen Brett said: “We continue to face a huge financial challenge and difficult choices, made harder by the impact of coronavirus and significant government cuts.
“Our budget is much less than it was a decade ago, so clearly we have a lot less to spend.
“Many savings are being made without impacting front-line services but while we continue working hard to identify savings that have the least impact on our residents, we have no option but to set a balanced budget.
“These are not decisions we want to make following years of cuts, but we have to make them to make sure the council is still here to provide the essential help and support, so please do take part in this consultation, give feedback and tell us what is important to you.”
Speaking about the budget to the Observer, Coun Brett, said: “We’re not cutting that much this year and we’re putting the council tax up. “I wanted to freeze it. “We’re trying to make sure that front line services are not affected.
“These are things like emptying the bins, cleaning the roads and keeping the lights on, and things like social care and education. I don’t want those to be affected.
“The government have not reimbursed us for everything spent.
“There are amber and red services that we have agreed not to look at - the green ones were agreed on by staff, and everybody else, but we have to consult on it.
“The problem is that rates and council tax are not fit for purpose.
“The problem with council tax is it’s regressive tax and it affects everybody the same.
“The richest pay the same increase as the poorest.
“The richest people only pay the same amount and get the same increase as the poorest.
“Also, the bands are so tight - in the whole of the borough, we have less than 70 band H’s.” Band Hs pay the highest amount of tax proportionate to council tax bands.
Leader of the Conservative Party, Coun Ashley Dearnley, also gave his views.
He said: “It’s about reducing staff and certain things.
“That’s how we have saved money - staff is down significantly to where we’re at now.
“I think we have done a remarkably good job and we’re still providing a good service.
“The option was to cut spending because it needed to happen over the past 10 years.
“It becomes increasingly difficult to cut spending - I would hope the government can provide a lot of money to help with the pandemic.
“I would hope going forward that we’re going to make significant further reductions.
“We have all seen the benefit of council services and what they have done throughout the pandemic.
“We’ve had support with lots of money and I’d hope the government realises the value and efficiency of local authorities.
“I think it’s right to look at services - at the end of the day it’s public money.
“We should constantly look at where we can make cuts balanced to where we can provide a good service.” Details of the proposals are at www. rochdale.gov.uk/savings where you can also give your views and find out other ways you can help the council save money.
If you’re unable to access the proposals online you can get copies of the reports and leave your feedback in writing at Number One Riverside in Rochdale.
Residents have from now until 17 February 2021 to give their views. Once feedback has been received, final decisions are due to be made at a full council meeting on 3 March.