Cambridgeshire: 'Huge Savings Required' At County Council

26 November 2013, 09:24 | Updated: 26 November 2013, 09:47

Fewer of Cambridgeshire's roads could be gritted, and council tax could rise, under new County Council budget plans.

The authority has announced it must save £149 million during the next five years.

Cambridgeshire County Council is expected to make savings over the next year of around £37 million. 

This is following savings of £42 million last year, and a further £32 million for this current financial year.

Areas Which Could Face Cuts

As a result, the authority has announced plans to:

  • Reduce funding for gritting, possibly leading to fewer roads being gritted.
  • Review the amount of funding given to libraries.
  • Reduce funding for some home to school transport.
  • A review looking at how to reduce demand for adult social care services.
  • A reconfiguration of of Children's Centres and 'overall reduction in services they provide'.
However spending on large-scale transport projects, including the Cambridge Science Park Station and Ely bypass is preserved.

This proposed budged will be looked at by Scrutiny Committees at the Council, and therefore could change.

A final version will then be debated by Full Council in February next year.

'Tough Time For Councils'

Cambridgeshire County Council leader, Martin Curtis, said: "This is a very tough time for Councils and especially Cambridgeshire. 

We are one of the hardest hit authorities in the country in terms of funding and yet we are trying to deliver the most growth. 

We have already saved tens of millions of pounds by making savings where people would expect as well as using reserves.

But we are also being innovative with such projects as sharing services with other councils through LGSS as well as being a UK leader in better use of public sector buildings with our partners. 

However, the scale of savings we now need to make means we have to make tough decisions and inevitably some regrettable cuts to frontline services. 

But these cuts are necessary so that we can continue to make sure we protect the most vulnerable while supporting the local economy and jobs."