Six more years of gloom for council finances

OLDHAM Council’s austerity measures will continue until at least 2018, a senior councillor has revealed.

Despite saving £100 million, the council’s finances remain gloomy in the wake of the Chancellor’s autumn statement. Oldham must cut another £31 million by 2015, and further savings of two per cent in 2014/15 and 2015/16. This could also continue until at least 2018.

Speaking after the Chancellor’s speech, Councillor finance spokesman Abdul Jabbar said: “The future of local government is looking very gloomy indeed.”

On Monday Councillor Abdul Jabbar revealed almost every department is set to be hit by the upcoming cuts, including £500,000 from adult social care, £854,000 from parks, £254,000 from heritage, libraries and arts, £187,000 from school crossing patrols and £84,000 from public safety.