BLEAK FUTURE MAPPED OUT FOR COUNTY

Published on Thu 28th Jun 2007

The County Council's Tory administration has approved plans for a bleak future in Gloucestershire.

A document that went before the Cabinet at the beginning of this month reveals plans for a stand-still budget accompanied by cuts to services.

On the 6th of June, Gloucestershire County Council's Tory cabinet endorsed a short document setting out its intentions for next year's budget. The document speaks openly of "efficiency savings", "service reductions" and "increases in fees and charges". Some parts of the budget will be rendered completely stand-still by the cabinet's commitment to meet inflation costs with efficiency savings.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Jeremy Hilton, said:

"This is a depressing and unambitious basis upon which to develop a budget. The mention of service cuts and increased charges are particularly worrying. In February the Tories set a budget for this year which made next to no real investment and slashed funding in many crucial areas, including Adult Care and the Fire and Rescue Service. It looks as though there are already plans to do the same next year."

Cllr Hilton added:

"The Labour Government has been increasing the demands placed on the Council and calling for efficiencies at the same time. These are difficult times for budgeting in Gloucestershire, but the administration should try being more inventive. We have six months before we set the next budget, and it is very disappointing that the Tories have already resigned themselves to a bleak future. We will be pressing the administration to re-think this attitude throughout the consultation process."