Budget changes bid to soften £41m blow

OLDHAM Council has attempted to reduce the affect of unprecedented cuts which will hit jobs and services as it plans to slash £41 million from its budget.

It has taken account of suggestions from the public, staff and its partners to produce a final set of proposals ahead of next Wednesday’s budget-setting meeting.

Councillors say they have made a series of amendments directly as a result of comments made during five months spent thrashing out ways of making the drastic savings for the next financial year.

The ruling Liberal Democrat/ Conservative coalition has incorporated some of the alternative budget proposals put forward by the opposition Labour group, as well as some from the cross-party overview and scrutiny committee.

It had been waiting to find out exactly how much it will get from the Government for next year and the details of other grants before it could produce a final budget.

More money than expected has helped it soften the blow of cuts in areas identified as priorities during consultation.

The final set of proposals now includes:

::The creation of a new £200,000 transition fund to assist the voluntary sector.

::A £120,000 investment fund to reward carers for unpaid work.

::£105,000 to ensure school crossing patrols continue at current levels, to allow transition to a community-led service.

::£75,000 to establish a new team and mystery shopper scheme to monitor and assess adult and social care services provided by the private sector.

::An extra £75,000 to tackle domestic violence.

::£200,000 to market Oldham town centre and other key regeneration sites to attract investment and stimulate business and employment growth.

::Reversal of plans to cut £80,000 to the youth service, so frontline services are unaffected.

::Restoration of £130,000 for Oldham Community Leisure and £4,000 for major community events.

::Up to £20,000 to boost a reduced government grant to Shop Mobility.

::More than £40,000 for highways improvement and emergency repair works in response to residents’ requests.

Measures adopted from Labour’s alternative budget have resulted in £575,000 of savings, including cuts in printing costs, training for members, recruitment advertising, food, drinks, travel and accommodation.

Council leader Howard Sykes said: “The public consultation on our budget plans has been key in shaping many of these final proposals and I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in this process.

“To make reductions in the region of £40 million in the budget has not been easy. It has inevitably meant changes in the way that we deliver services and — in some cases — no longer being able to provide them.

“We want to continue investing in the priority services that are important to the citizens of this borough, and fully recognised that we do not have a monopoly on the good ideas and innovative suggestions needed to achieve this.”

Councillor Sykes said the result had been some “common sense changes” but it would be business as usual with the services most valued by the public.

He added: “We’ve given everything due consideration.

“The process is as good as, if not better, than anyone elses in Greater Manchester.

“We hope the public sees evidence that we’ve listened to what they have said.

“Some things people aren’t even going to like but they are things that are pointing us in the right direction, for when we get a resurgence in the economy.”