North Tyneside Council, along with nearly every local authority in England, has been forced to raise council tax to meet the shortfall of government cuts and unprecedented demand for social care.
Budget plans to save over £18 million were approved at a Full Council meeting in North Tyneside on Thursday 16 February. The package agreed focuses on savings for 2017/18, as well as plans to reduce spending by almost £50 million in the next three years.
Since 2010 North Tyneside Council, along with other local authorities, has faced unprecedented reductions in government spending. More than £101 million has already been saved and a further £18 million must be saved in 2017/2018. These huge cuts come at a time when demand for some of the council’s most costly services, such as vulnerable adults and children’s social care, is increasing.
The approval of the plans comes at the end of a budget setting process that included feedback from residents, community groups and local businesses on their priorities.
Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn said: “This is an incredibly tough time as we are faced with massive government funding cuts as well as relentless pressure on our care services. But, it is not just about social care. Many of the services our residents value - including investment in roads and pavements, access to libraries and leisure services, waste services and children’s services – are also under pressure. However, I am clear that we can rise to this challenge.
“I would like to thank all of those who gave us their feedback during our budget consultation. We have listened to residents and understand what is important to them, and have set out a clear plan for the future of North Tyneside. This plan seeks to protect and improve essential services for the people of North Tyneside, invest in the future of the borough, grow the local economy, create more jobs and opportunities, and build a more modern council that enables people to do more for themselves.
“Despite these unprecedented and unrelenting government funding cuts my budget will look after the environment by protecting weekly refuse collections, encouraging people to recycle more and continuing investment in local environmental services.”
It will ensure North Tyneside remains a great place to live, work and visit by not closing its excellent sport, leisure centres and libraries. It will also continue the £5 million spent each year on maintaining the condition of our roads and pavements.
To meet the challenges and rising costs of increasing demand for children’s social care and services for older and vulnerable people, the council will develop new ways of working that include helping families at an earlier stage and providing new and modern services to support care at home and in residential settings. It will also work more closely with the NHS and adult social care services.
The budget will continue the council’s multi-million pound investment programme to transform key areas across the borough including Whitley Bay Spanish City Dome and seafront and the Swans site in Wallsend.
The council will also continue to deliver 3,000 new affordable homes over the next 10 years and 900 new sheltered homes for older residents via the North Tyneside Living scheme, both of which are progressing well.
Due to the scale and severity of funding cuts from Central Government, the council has had to make some extremely challenging decisions about how to reduce its budget. In order to meet the growing demands for adult social care services, Cabinet has had no choice but to accept Central Government’s option to increase the adult social care precept. This will raise an additional £2.25 million to support vulnerable people and families.
This will mean an overall increase in council tax of 5%, in line with Central Government advice. This will ensure the council can continue to deliver the essential services that residents need to stay safe and cared for.
Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn said: “With so many competing demands to pay for services we have taken a lot of time to scrutinise our finances, looking at every pound we spend. Funding reductions on this scale mean difficult decisions have had to be made, and, unfortunately, many more lie ahead, if we are to manage with far less money. However I am determined to protect essential services to residents, invest in the future and support the local economy.
“As a ‘listening’ Mayor I am committed to focusing on the things that people have told us are most important to them such as jobs, health, clean streets, roads and pavements. I also know that people expect us to protect essential services and make sure that the council operates in as efficient a way as possible, providing excellent value for money for local taxpayers.”
Residents can watch a film of the Full Council meeting and budget debate at https://youtu.be/Fw5SHMOrscA
