Council urges public help to decide cuts

COUNCIL chiefs have launched a public consultation to get residents’ views on how to find £24 million in savings.

The Evening Chronicle revealed two weeks ago that 400 jobs could be lost at Oldham Council to fill the budget black hole over the next financial year.

The authority — which has called its budget settlement the toughest since the Second World War — says detailed work is already under way to address the 2012-13 budget gap by identifying potential savings from across its range of services and financial commitments.

Discussions have begun with potentially affected staff and trade unions. Feedback — plus the results of the public consultation — will now be key in shaping the final budget proposals, which will go to full council in February, 2012.

The total budget is around £235 million and the savings that need to be found before the start of the next financial year represent more than 10 per cent of that.

Residents can find out exactly what their money is spent on in a detailed breakdown of the budget — and the council’s income sources – available online at www.oldham.gov.uk/budget  

Residents are invited to submit their ideas using an online form and can also rate suggestions made by others as they are published on the site.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “Every resident will know the public sector is facing unprecedented financial challenges and that significant savings must be found. There are no easy solutions here and we know that reductions will mean changes will have to be made about how and what services we deliver.”

He added: “We want to be able to make our final decisions informed by clear views from our residents about what you think our spending priorities are — and where you think spending could be reduced.

“We’d also like to hear any suggestions you may have where you think there is unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy. Our search for savings is going out across every area of our business.

“The council has cut management costs by more than £3 million in the last three financial years and more will be needed. Our emergency budget has also already cut councillors allowances by 10 per cent.

“I would urge all residents to take five minutes to give us your thoughts and have your voice heard about these important decisions.”

The council found £40 million in savings last year, with 345 employees going in the current financial year. Estimates suggest that in total – between 2009 and 2015 – it will have saved £130 million.