Libraries closed to balance books?

HIGH Barn Day Centre, three libraries, and the tourism service could close in the latest round of cuts to balance Oldham Council’s budget.

Adult care packages could be cut in size and quality to save £300,000 and the lollipop crossing service reduced to find £30,000.

Papers just released show that savings of £1.7 million have been identified in the second round of cuts.

The authority said yesterday that another 40 posts, on top of 150 already chosen, could go. Councillors have warned that in total 850 jobs could go before the budget is finalised in February.

Oldham needs £17.4 million in savings, service cuts or job losses to balance the books. The latest round includes closing High Barn Day Centre in Royton, which needs modernisation, saving £350,000.

The review of the library service has put Stoneleigh and Broadway, plus the mobile library, under threat of closing, and Greenfield considered for the long term closure, saving £150,000.

Oldham’s Tourism Service could also become a self-serve facility, saving £50,000.

School crossing patrols will be restructured, particularly at pelican traffic light junctions.

Other savings include deleting vacant posts, restructuring the environmental health, trading standards and registrars’ service, and revising concessions at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

The plans go to councillors on the Cabinet on Monday.

Director of finance Peter Timmins warns in his report that more work on the budget could find more holes — such as the failure to meet £4.2 million efficiency savings this year by £1.8 million, and the costs of making people redundant.

The council has called in accountants KPMG to review the budget and find savings. Mr Timmins says if it makes £10 million savings, the budget gap will be only £2.3 million.

But if it can only come up with £2 million savings, councillors will have to find £10.3 million.