New budget cuts recommended to Bromley Council
4:14pm Monday 6th February 2012 in Where I Live By Rachel Conner
A NEW round of budget cuts for the coming year have been recommended to Bromley Council.
Cuts totalling more than £13.5m have been outlined in the draft budget which will go before the full council for approval at a meeting on February 20.
At this meeting councillors will also debate whether or not to freeze council tax for a second year in a row.
Leader of Bromley Council Stephen Carr said: “Listening to your priorities at our Tough Choices meetings and your further responses helped inform what has been an exceptionally difficult budget to set.
"Reductions in government funding mean we have to save more than £30 million over three years in addition to £22 million last year.
“Yes, we are forced to make substantial savings. But contrary to popular belief we have protected crucial areas of service, many of which recognise the value you place on the environment we enjoy in Bromley.
“Building a Better Bromley remains our guiding principle. We are determined to continue to meet the ever increasing demands for services, many to support our most vulnerable residents.
"We will continue to invest in our borough’s local economy to deliver improvements for all and potential new jobs for local people.
“We will protect what makes our borough a place where people choose to live and work.”
Among the services affected by cuts are street cleaning, support for children with special educational needs, and support for disabled people.
The Executive has recommended that some of the cuts outlined in the draft budget do not go ahead after all, including cuts to funding for the borough’s “Friends” groups, Carers Bromley, Bromley Youth Music Trust [BYMT] and support for young people with mental health issues.
Staff and senior management savings will amount to more than £2.5m.
Further savings of up to £644,000 are expected to be made through outsourcing and sharing services, including the library service with Bexley.
Last year saw budget cuts of £22m, with another £30m to be made over the next three years. Cuts have been made following reductions of central government funding.
Saving proposals include
Reduce funding for children with SEN, saving £50,000.
Savings of £180,000 to be made by reducing the Disabled Facilities Grant and the Save a Home Grant.
Funding for street cleansing to be reduced £818,000.
The citizen’s advice bureau will lose £32,000 in funding.
The support planning and brokerage service for older people will lose £50,000.
£10,000 to be saved through tackling blue badge fraud.
Reduce funding for tree maintenance by £62,000.
Funds available for repainting street lamp columns to be reduced by £55,000
