Bus passes and Cleethorpes' illuminations hit hard by council cuts
ILLUMINATIONS in Cleethorpes and bus passes are the latest casualties of strict budget cuts.
North East Lincolnshire Council is currently reviewing what it spends the borough's money on in an attempt to save £14 million in 2013/14, and the second budget setting meeting of six was held at Grimsby Town Hall last night.
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LEAN TIMES: One of the main changes to be proposed by the council is the introduction of a 50p charge to bus pass holders before 9.30am. Currently it is free and NELC subsidises travel for those with bus passes.
One of the main changes to be proposed by the council is to increase to 50p the charge to bus pass holders before 9.30am.
Currently it is 30p and NELC subsidises travel for those with bus passes, but from April 1 they hope the extra money gained by charging would create an extra £47,000.
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Council leader Chris Shaw said: "There is still a 70p saving for people using a bus pass so it is still worth it and the extra money is needed."
The use of colourful banners in Cleethorpes instead of illuminations in the summer months would also save an extra £15,000.
Councillor Shaw continued: "The question is do we really need them on when a good efficiency saving could be made?
"The illuminations have little effect in the summer and using colourful banners instead will save money and bring something new."
Increasing the amount of energy-efficient street lighting in the borough will also save £175,000 over the next year when orange low-pressure sodium lamps are replaced with white LEDs.
Although cuts are a large part of any budget, deciding what should not be done is also as important.
It was found that the removal of unnecessary signs and other street furniture could cost £120,000 and based on this, anything that does not need removing will be left as long as it is safe.
Councillor Ray Oxby said: "It is not cost-effective or appropriate at this time for us to consider this."
And Councillor Peter Wheatley added: "When something is worn out and not needed, it will not be replaced. If something is falling down or if there is a safety aspect we will remove it, but if not it will stay."
The seriousness of budget setting was also made clear in last night's Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Panel – the second of six panel meetings to discuss specific aspects of the overall budget.
Councillor Wheatley added: "We cannot leave any stone unturned in this budget.
"Talking about statutory and non-statutory services like a cow that can be slaughtered is not the way to look at this budget. We have a duty of care."
We would like to point out that the photograph accompanying yesterday's report about child and adolescent mental health services was used in error. Adult services are not affected by the cuts detailed in the article.
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by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 4:09PM
“We need to SPEND money to create jobs by motivating people from other areas to come here and spend money.Of course a Yorkie would n't be able to understand that.Imaginative festivals like a fifties Rock N Roll weekend, bikers weekend, Scooter weekend, Philately weekend, vintage car show, Morris Minor owners car show and weekend,Beatles weekend,cheese weekend, wine weekend.All it needs is a bit of imagination to bring folks from Rotherham,Leeds and Scunthorpe.”
by Seaviewer
Monday, February 04 2013, 7:42PM
“The Cleethorpes Illuminations have not so long ago been upgraded to energy saving LEDS. The festoon lighting and most of the steet lamp motiffs are LED energy saving fittings and while cheap to run, would have been expensive to buy, very expensive, as is the control gear used to switch on the Illuminations. This is done in one go by a radio transmitter on the cliff top, which relays a signal to the lamp post displays and prom' festoon lights, to turn them on and off in one go.
Now the council want to trash this and replace the lights with bunting? How much will the bunting cost? Will it be handmade? How long before it's weathered and torn by the North Sea salt air?
The Illuminations surely bring evening footfall to the town? If they were past their sell by date I could understand the council's reluctance to spend scarce cash on replacements, but the lights are working fine. Why not, as mentioned above, make sure the lights come on when it is dark and not just dusk? Also, instead of the Illuminations burning until midnight, why not turn them off at 10:30pm? That would save an hour and half at least in electricity usage, each evening they are on?
Cleethorpes has had Illuminations for as long as I can remember, back into the 1960's and while not on the same scale as Blackpool or Skegness, they still look really great and are an added night time bonus to the resort. Please don't ruin it.”
by elsawill
Thursday, January 24 2013, 2:58PM
“I agree with MeggySue about the times the light do go on in the summer - often when it is still daylight. I also think ordinary lights should be installed along the walkway on the prom from Brighton Slipway to the Cleethorpes Leisuee Centre”
by MeggySue
Thursday, January 24 2013, 2:35PM
“The illuminations - I see that in summer they are on from 8 pm to midnight. The times should be changed so that they are only switched on when it is dark, or almost dark. There is not much point in illuminations in daylight! There has been a "moon" for as long as I can remember (quite a few years!). The "moon" at least should be retained as it is such a promonent feature. Power costs - has wind power been considered?”
by justsaying
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 9:11PM
“Am I the only one that remembers the fuss that Labour caused when this was proposed when they were in opposition?
What a disgusting bunch of hypocrites!!!”
by b52craft
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 5:24PM
“Why not get rid of some councillors . The council could be cut by a third as there is no need for three in each ward . That would save some money to start with . Let them go and find a job instead of being kept by the rest of us .”
by baldockshb
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 3:24PM
“Great - I have had to wait nearly two years to get my bus pass and pension - (62 in September) when I had expected to collect my pension at 60!!! and now that I am within weeks of being able to get my bus pass its being changed!!!! What a wonderful Local Authority we belong to!!!”
by Big-Hat-Harry
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 1:49PM
“The rather ineffectual display in Cleethorpes is not going to attract people to the town.”
by Big-Hat-Harry
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 1:09PM
“While I can empathise with the need to save money to improve the budget I am rather surprised by these moves. Going to the seaside to see the lights is a common attraction for many. The rather ineffectual display in Cleethorpes is not going to the town. Rather, spending more, to ensure that they are an attraction, would, with appropriate publicity, attract people into the area. This would, in turn, mean that people were spending money in the area. This additional income could go some way to improving the unemployment figures. This would mean fewer people on housing benefit. This would be a better longer term cure for shortfall in the budget.
All I see is a council slowly strangling the community.”
by THEAPPLE
Wednesday, January 23 2013, 11:51AM
“last one out switch the lig.....sorry been done”