Council-tax freeze rubber stamped
Reporter: Lewis Jones
Date published: 07 February 2012
A BUDGET incorporating £24million in savings was rubber stamped by Oldham Council’s Cabinet last night.
After months of deliberation and calculation, it was decided that the total budget for the financial year 2012/13 would be just over £225million.
It means council tax will be frozen for another year, at £1,542.83 for a Band D property. This is a one-year option and has been made possible by a government grant of £2.1 million. Savings will be found through better procurement, by reducing red tape and bureaucracy, using council-owned buildings more effectively and increasing partnership work with the public sector.
Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Cabinet member for finance and resources, said a lot of work had gone into balancing the figures.
He added: “We have taken a lot of time and effort in trying to balance this budget, it’s been extremely difficult to find savings of £24million, but we have responded magnificently to the very rigorous challenge of trying to find this money.
“We have managed to do this without increasing council tax, surely this will be a welcome relief for the residents of Oldham given many have had their pay frozen and inflation has gone up.”
The budget follows previous savings of £21million in 09/10, almost £11million in 10/11 and just short of £40 million this year.
Staffing reductions are expected to be around 200, with minimal potential compulsory redundancies.
Meanwhile, further savings will be found from the residential care budget, through a children’s-centre re-tender, waste collection services, changes to ICT and savings within Unity.
Council leader Jim McMahon said the savings had become harder to find, but that he was proud they had been made without closures of front-line services.
He added: “We have tried to protect the front line as much as possible.
“The Government can make these cuts and don’t have to deal with the consequences, but we do.
“Both us, and the opposition with their alternative budget, have really strived to get the best deal for Oldham.”
