Cuts "inevitable" as Coventry City Council faces £23m funding gap

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Cuts "inevitable" as Coventry City Council faces £23m funding gap

Postby dutchman » Fri Oct 05, 2018 3:52 pm

A report says services may have to be delivered differently or axed altogether

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Coventry council is facing a £23.5million financial gap by 2022, with cuts in services "inevitable", a report has warned.

Coventry City Council's 'medium term financial strategy 2019-22' said the initial financial gap will rise to £20.8m in 2020/21 and £23.5m the following year.

Cllr John Mutton (Lab, Binley and Willenhall), cabinet member for strategic finance and resources, has said he is "confident" he can present a balanced budget for next year.

The report was presented to cabinet on October 2 where councillors agreed to the recommendation to approve the strategy.

Uncertainty over Brexit, rising demand from population growth, shortfalls in delivering savings, central government funding cuts, and costs for children and housing are noted in the report as adding "pressure" to finances.

It added the level of resources available to the council has reduced significantly with a reduction of around £120m between 2010 and 2020.

It said: "It is clear that Coventry faces the challenges and major policy choices faced by many other authorities and the size of the gap makes it inevitable that areas not previously considered will now need to be reviewed with some services being delivered differently or quite possibly not at all."

Cllr Mutton said at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting: "The strategy hasn't altered a great deal since we set the budget in February.

"What is happening though is I have been informed of various pressures that are arising in the council which change the figures slightly.

"I'm still confident that for next year's budget we will be able to present a balanced budget and avoid the huge problems that some councils like Northamptonshire, Surrey, Lancashire are having where they are looking at making cuts of anything between £40-£60m."

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Re: Cuts "inevitable" as Coventry City Council faces £23m funding gap

Postby rebbonk » Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:46 pm

But we can afford to send 3 councillors on a Jolly to Russia and help out GoApe at Coombe to the tune of £2million. :clown:

This hopeless council has its priorities all wrong. :fuming:
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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Re: Cuts "inevitable" as Coventry City Council faces £23m funding gap

Postby dutchman » Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:45 pm

Council cuts: a further £11 million slashed from budget

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Around £11 million worth of cuts are to be made in 2019/20 with more on the way as Coventry council faces a £23.5m funding gap by 2022.

Coventry City Council found its Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019-22 presented 'a balanced budget' for 2019/20, dependant on an £11m savings programme.

But it warned the financial gap will rise to £20.8m in 2020/21 and £23.5m the following year.

At a full council on October 16, Councillor John Mutton (Lab, Binley and Willenhall), said 'I fear the worst as I do not believe austerity has come to an end'.

No specific mention was made to where savings would be made, but the report said the council will need to 'prioritise' services it wants to keep and identify those that may be 'ceased altogether'.

A Ministry for Local Government spokesperson told CoventryLive: “We are giving Coventry Council £251.6m to spend on services which is an increase on last year.

“Local authorities are responsible for their own funding decisions, but over the next two years, we are providing councils with £90.7 billion to help them meet the needs of their residents.

“We are giving them the power to retain the growth in business rates income and are working with local government to develop a funding system for the future, based on the needs of different areas."

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Re: Cuts "inevitable" as Coventry City Council faces £23m funding gap

Postby rebbonk » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:34 pm

i have absolutely no confidence in this council. They will deliberately hit the most vulnerable and needy in order to make political statements.
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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