£7.5m extra savings needed

OLDHAM Council cabinet has approved savings options designed to balance its budget in 2014-2015.

The proposals build on budget reports agreed in December and February and include new ways of working, reducing subsidies and increasing income for the council. The measures will put before full council next week.

The council will also be examining how it will deliver services in the future, looking at closer integration of organisations and measures to cut costs and red tape.

Council leader Councillor Jim McMahon said the council prepared for the budget from what it believed it would be receiving from central government. The actual figure was much less than originally expected and an extra £7.5 million would have to be saved.

Councillor McMahon said local government is one of the most efficient arms of government, but councils aren’t being given time to prepare when changes are made to budgets.