Financial challenges ahead, warns Barrow Borough Council leader
Last updated at 16:54, Friday, 04 January 2013
THERE are further financial challenges ahead at Barrow town hall, a council leader has said.
2012 was a year where Barrow Borough Council was faced with making unprecedented cutbacks after government funding was slashed.
The authority saw around £4m cut by the government from its annual budget and in the last few days of business for the year heard it is to lose a further 8.8 per cent from its annual spending power.
A four year budget strategy prepared by the council means it is now in a strong position to deal with cutbacks, and should be able to cope financially in 2013/14.
However, there are fears about the long term financial position of the council, and leader Councillor Dave Pidduck said work will begin to address the lasting effects of further cuts.
He said: “It would appear that the government are saying we are spending more than we should be.
“I don’t know how they have come to a figure of £1.1m because efficiencies have already been made in the council. We are not going to have any knee jerk reactions though.”
Cllr Pidduck said the council would continue to fight for funding over the next year to boost the area. He said: “We will keep plugging away and do our best for the people of the borough.
“We will make sure that we can deliver the services that we will need.
“And if there are opportunities to bring funding in, we will work to be able to do that.”
Cllr Pidduck said the council wanted to build on funding that had been secured for projects last year, such as £3.4m for renovation of flats on Barrow Island and £1.6m to rebuild St James’ School in Barrow.
He said: “There have been little victories. Unfortunately we don’t tend to shout about them as we get so bogged down in doing all the other stuff.
“The new soccer centre at the Park Leisure Centre will be opened in the new year and that will be a big boost. We have also managed to do little things like the Christmas markets, which were very successful.
“It is not all doom and gloom. We have just got to make sure that we are careful and hopefully we can deliver.”
First published at 16:19, Thursday, 03 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
How about trying this for a start.
Stop wasting our money on all the flowers in town this summer.
Whilst they may be aesthetically pleasing they are NOT a necessity.
I havenât been able to afford a single hanging basket for Three years!
Have your say
Fight for funding! you did not take the funding for council tax to freeze it Stop putting ours up as you did last year when you did not have to. We have one of the highest council taxes in the United Kingdom. It is no wonder people are leaving in their droves, we cannot afford to live here.
Posted by fed up Barrowvian on 6 January 2013 at 18:23