Finance chief promises books will balance

Councillor Greg Couzens

Rochdale finance chief Councillor Greg Couzens has promised local taxpayers that the Council will balance the books before the end of the financial year despite currently predicting being £2.5 million over budget.

Following a financial report at a recent council cabinet meeting, Councillor Couzens, in an interview with Rochdale Online, said: "I have met with every department head and made it absolutely clear that they have to reduce their spending and stay within their budgets."

Asked whether he expected they would take heed Councillor Couzens said: "Yes, I am very confident they will.

"I am happy to go on record that there will be no overspend by the end of the financial year."

Adult care services is responsible for the majority of the projected overspend - it is understood that the interim director of the department, who has been in post for 18 months following a contract extension, is being paid more than the £140,000 per annum paid to Council Chief Executive Roger Ellis.