CUTS: The savings start now as councillors agree to budget cuts plan
"WE are on our way."
That was the pledge made by council leaders as they agreed a budget cuts plan last night of about £9 million – the first step in the four-year plan to save £30 million.
It is the biggest round of cuts North East Lincolnshire Council has had to make in its 15-year history.
And the council has taken the biggest hit in Government spending reduction of all the unitary authorities in England – with £15 million less in its central government grant.
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But councillors agreed council tax would be frozen for another year so an average Band A property household will pay about £993 and a Band D home tax will be £1,246.
The cutbacks agreed at the meeting at Grimsby Town Hall will affect all levels of council spending.
As reported, the five executive directors could be cut to three by 2014 and some council staff may face changes to their contracts that will cut their salaries by almost a fifth.
A total of 200 council posts will be cut, though most of them are short-term contracts due to expire this year.
Compulsory job losses are due to be limited to about 15.
Services will also bear the brunt of the cutbacks:
Libraries will close on Sundays, although access to Cleethorpes Tourist Information Centre in Cleethorpes Library will be maintained.
Children's Centre opening hours will be cut back.
Parks and gardens will be tended less and grass cut every eight weeks, instead of five.
The tourism budget will be cut by £292,000, including £200,000 through taking Meridian Park back into local authority control.
Council leader Councillor Andrew De Freitas said the budget protected the vulnerable in our society and ensured an efficient council, providing effective frontline services.
He said: "We are on our way to meeting the long-term plan.
"It is tough, but North East Lincolnshire is in a better position than most other authorities because of the changes we have made in previous years – transferring council housing stock six years ago, creating the Care Trust Plus three years ago and last year agreeing the partnership with Balfour Beatty. We have done much more than most authorities."
Opposition Conservative group leader Councillor Keith Brookes said: "This council is reducing street cleaning, reducing street bin emptying, reducing the number of flower beds, reducing grass cutting and will reduce the success had with Cleethorpes In Bloom, and Grimsby and Immingham In Bloom."
His group's amendments to retain cleansing teams and maintain bowling greens and plough £200,000 back into tourism were defeated by 27 votes to 15.
Labour group leader Councillor Chris Shaw's amendment to have a review to combine community pride enforcement teams with street cleaning teams to save £375,000 in the first year was approved.
Mr Shaw said: "I look forward to future years, when we can combine more services to save more money."
A full analysis will appear in tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph.
Comments
by CarlRobertson
Thursday, February 28 2013, 1:25AM
“Its funny how they dont mention the cuts to the Childrens disability support services such as Banardos Key worker and parent partnership service that they have left vulnerable children and families without to suit their own fat pay packets.
More on this Link and another upcoming story friday or saturday about this despicable act from the LA - http://tinyurl.com/c8xv28u”
by Sheepy20202
Saturday, February 18 2012, 12:11PM
“Nice to see the tories not put in any amendments. Oh they did try its just they missed the deadline. Good work fellas.”
by crazy, council
Sunday, February 20 2011, 9:57AM
“Councillor Burnett was possibly the only person that oppologised and took responcablilty for the banking fiasco - even though he had no part in it or was not on the scrutany panels. - His comments was removed from the minuets of the audit commission PIR.
The auditor blamed 3 ward councilors, Councillor Burnett stud up and opologised to the public on behalf of all of them. None of this was in the minuets, what he said showed he had an understanding of the failures.
If people like Councillor Burnett or many of the others were able to establish some controll of our council, this would be different for us, the public.
Porbebly half of our ward councilors are genuine caring hard working dedicated people that want to line the pockets of the people of NELC, The other half have been running us since 2004, and doing everythin to make sure tyhey stay in power.
Theres not much wrong with our council, or our area. The problem is the people that have been running it since 2004.
question, who runs our council, do any of you know ? a clue is, its not Mr Hunter, Or Mr Difatus - look on any recent letter.”
by Chris GY, Grimsby
Saturday, February 19 2011, 12:59PM
“Ha Ha Ha Eric. Howarth's comments were about as welcome as a rattlesnake in a lucky dip.
Just to clarify, those sniggering at Burnett weren't just Lib Dems. It would appear that ignorance unlike intelligence crosses all political divides.”
by Eric Branston, Houses of Parliament
Saturday, February 19 2011, 10:50AM
“Chris GY wrote:
"I thought it was extremely rude of those seated near DeF to snigger and mock when Councillor Burnett suffered severe throat problems. That was unnecessary but somehow summed them up."
Thank you for confirming my suspicions that these ignorant and immature characters are the type of people who typically get into the position of power and influence.
I'm particularly interested and glad to hear that Con Howarth's has raised concern about the council's profiteering over Council Tax liability orders. Though I take it is wasn't welcomed by the committee.”
by Chris GY, Grimsby
Saturday, February 19 2011, 10:32AM
“xyz - he was definitely 'spaking'. If he had been speaking people might have actually paid attention....lol Apologies for double post, it was quite unintentional, unintentional, unintentional.
John, Waltham.- Yes it was exceedingly boring, but in fairness to them it's not their duty to entertain us (thankfully)
I did get the impression that the politics of the thing were the objective, that the processes and procedures were of far more importance than the community they purport to serve. The public, the vulnerable and the council taxpayers seemed almost an afterthought. It was my distinct impression that this council have forgotten who they work for.
There were a couple of points raised that deserve some credit and some that were ridiculous and hypocritical to say the least. It was a little rich that the Tories tried to reinstate free swimming for over 60's and Councillor Brookes attempted to take the moral high ground over this, until it was revealed that it was the Tory members of the panel who'd voted to abolish it. Councillor Shaw sounded like he was having an interview for Mitchells job, and Vickers appeared to treat the whole thing with disdain.
I thought it was extremely rude of those seated near DeF to snigger and mock when Councillor Burnett suffered severe throat problems. That was unnecessary but somehow summed them up.
There were some creditable points raised during the evening. Con Howarth raised the point about the council's profiteering over Council Tax liability orders, Coun Norton protested about the small minded decision to axe the mobile library service, as it cost so little, yet enhanced so many rural lives. Coun Fenty raised some excellent points about the actual level of scrutiny the budget had been through, as opposed to the level of scrutiny that DeF claimed. This issue really needs to be examined.
The most passion I saw all night was a brief speech from Coun Wallace, I didn't agree with the point he raised, but by god I loved the passion he showed whilst raising it. We need more of this fire in the belly.
To sum up. I got the impression that it was just an elitist gathering of priveliged courtiers, to whom the processes mattered far more than the electorate they were mandated to serve.
I'm sure this report will differ from the official view of events, and of that I'm glad.”
by josephine white, Grimsby
Saturday, February 19 2011, 9:19AM
“You're right Observer. I used the wrong word. Could have kicked myself.
Other Councils are 'urging' their MP's to do it though. No reason why ours can't. The EU takes a big chunk of our money .. it should be forced to make savings like every other level of government.
(To be fair to ADF, he did say he had 'some sympathy' with the proposal).”
by Observer, Town Hall Square
Saturday, February 19 2011, 9:04AM
“John Williams:
I don't think that either the Council or the respective Constituency Parties can 'mandate' their MP.
All they can do, as many Constituency Parties have discovered is to 'urge' the MP to consider their views. The ultimate sanction of course is to threaten deselection.”
by John, Waltham
Saturday, February 19 2011, 8:26AM
“Chris GY. Can you really say YOU weren't bored by the whole of the proceedings?. Very important topic, but ludicrous procedure.”
by John Williams, Waltham
Saturday, February 19 2011, 6:54AM
“At the meeting, Josephine White was allowed to ask the following question:
"As every citizen and council in the UK will be under extreme financial stress for some years, will the Council consider mandating our local MPs to oppose any approval of any increase in the EU budget or the UK contribution to it over the next two years." Andrew de Freitas, Leader of the Council, said he had some sympathy with the point.
A motion to urge our MPs to resist the increasing EU budget may be debated by councillors at a future Council meeting.
Austin Mitchell and Martin Vickers probably agree anyway!
The hope is that a large cross-party majority in favour of the motion would help prod the Prime Minister into demanding that this EU drain on our resources is cut like so much else.”