Borough Council budget sees £5million in cuts

Northamptonshire's two largest councils have finalised their budgets for the coming years - with cuts top of the agenda.
Last night (Monday, February 28) at the Guildhall, Northampton Borough Council approved the proposed budget for 2011-14.
Headline news includes £5million in cuts, a freeze in council tax and a reduction in the size of the Cabinet. It follows the finalisation of Northamptonshire County Council's budget on Thursday, February 24.
Both budgets reflected the need to make widespread cuts following the Government's decision to cut back public services across the country in an attempt to claw back the monetary deficit.
County councillors took eight hours to decide a budget that was forced to address a £73million drop in Whitehall subsidies.
Yesterday's borough council meeting saw a new charitable trust formed to run the council's leisure centres and sports and play development services; a merger with Daventry District Council to contract out refuse, recycling, streetcare and grounds maintenance services to a private partner and to share back office functions; and the sale of Cliftonville House.
As a result there will be a reduction in senior management posts and the Cabinet will be cut from seven to six members.
Liberal Democrat Borough Council leader Councillor Brian Hoare said the changes will mean there would need to be a greater focus on volunteers in community life.
He said: "We had to make difficult choices and look at new ways of providing services.
"We need a new way of working with local people to meet the challenges of the future and we need to increase our work with communities and groups to give local people more control over services. We also need to support the economic recovery of the town by helping people who have been affected by the downturn."
The borough council budget also saw the setting up of a £200,000 fund over the next two years to be spent on working with the voluntary section to commission advice and guidance services for people facing hardship and a £100,000 a year investment into 'Big Society' projects.
Writing on his website prior to the budget, deputy leader and councillor for West Hunsbury Paul Varnsverry said: "The role of local authorities will change over the next few years and these investments aim to help community groups to build their skills and to achieve their ambitions for their area."
The larger county council budget covered £73million worth of savings, but also saw a freeze in council tax.
Plans approved include a review of all bus subsidies, the switching off of 50 per cent of all street lights, scrapping lollipop crossings, a reduction in grass verge trimming, the disbanding of the county's Casualty Reduction Partnership, a reduction in adult social services, increased car parking charges and the axing of 900 council jobs.
An original proposal to close eight libraries was removed and instead the council will carry out a review of all 36 libraries to consider new models for delivering library services in partnership with communities.

Full details of the budget can be seen on the county council website.

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