Have your say on Cheltenham's Budget

Cheltenham Borough Council’s draft budget for next year, 2011/12 has been agreed by the council's Cabinet.

It has been shaped by the views of more than 1700 people who took part in the recent high profile consultation.

It takes place against the background of an unprecedented financial crisis which has resulted in huge cuts in public expenditure. In the next two years central government funding will reduce by almost a quarter. As a result the council's net budget will decline from £16.75 million in the current year to £14.25 million in the coming year.

During the consultation local people gave a clear message that front line services should be protected and that cuts should focus on back office activities, plus those areas associated with member and civic expenditure. Most reductions of expenditure have been concerned with reducing back-office functions but despite this there will still be a cut in services.

Cabinet members have put forward a number of proposals for next year's budget which, if approved at council in February, will save £2.9m.  These include:

• Cutting cabinet members' allowances by 5%
• Reduction in civic expenditure
• Continued promotion of shared services with other local authorities to reduce long term expenditure and increase service resilience
• Reducing the cost of council assets for example through the sale of surplus assets
• Lowering running costs in council premises which are still needed, for instance by reducing energy consumption
• Smaller budgets for corporate training schemes
• Internal restructures to increase efficiencies, as part of the council's move to become a 'commissioning organisation'. This will see a senior management restructure, which will save £213,000 per annum when completed
• A  freeze on parking charges and no increase in council tax in the coming year
• A 'zero recruitment' initiative  - with the exception of statutory services and revenue raising activities
• A reduction in the number of staff - 32 jobs will be lost accounting for 5% of the council's workforce
• Flexible retirement and voluntary reduction in employee hours where possible
• A reduction in planting in some parks and gardens and a reduction in cutting roadside verges
• Increased support for youth work and the voluntary sector to enable them to supply provision of reduced services
• A reduction in the grant to Cheltenham Festivals
• Restructuring  the council to focus on commissioning services in a way that protects quality as well as saving money
• Charging for the collection of green waste

The cabinet has also reviewed the costs associated with providing public toilets, putting forward plans to consult with shops and cafes to allow the public access to their toilets as an alternative to using the current facilities.

For more information and have your say please visit -

http://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=563