Budget is “more compassionate” says Leader

Council Leader, Councillor Colin Lambert

The Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Colin Lambert, has revealed the changes the Labour administration plans to make to the budget for the next financial year.

Budget consultation has been taking place over the last three months and following the collapse of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative ran council, Labour have put forward changes they plan to see in the final budget.

The Council needs to slash up to £65million from its budget. The biggest cuts Rochdale Council has ever had to make and one of the highest figures when compared with other councils.

Councillor Lambert told Rochdale Online that plans to axe ten street cleaners have been dropped.

Other changes include:

• Cuts to adult care, including plans to close some centres will be reconsidered.
• Plans to axe the talking newspaper have been dropped
• Bin collection, gritting and highways will be run by the Townships
• Staff cuts from the Townships will be stopped
• 300 employees will be given early retirement or voluntary redundancy
• The council’s media unit will be dramatically reduced
• A ballot on plans to cut wages by 2.5 per cent for the majority of staff and 5 per cent for managers will take place in the summer. 

The changes will be paid for by halving the number of top managers earning more than £50,000 over the next two years.

Speaking about the changes Councillor Colin Lambert, said: “Realistically we have had three working weeks to produce cuts up £65million; the previous coalition had seven months - they fell out with each other and could not deliver.

“The last three weeks have been an endless nightmare.”

Councillor Lambert described the budget as “more compassionate.” He also said the Labour party has met with the groups which have commented on the consultation and said he isn’t ignoring the comments which have been submitted.

Councillor Lambert said he has spoke to all the councillors and said the day after the budget meeting next month (23 February 2011) all councillors needs to sit down together, without any silly games and be serious – adding if Councillors don’t grow up and get serious they should resign.

Speaking about the proposals to reduce managerial posts, Councillor Lambert, said: “Looking at the number of managers compared to comparative authorities we are over managed. Some services will cease over the next four years and others will be slimmed down, logically managers won’t have anything to manage and those who remain will have to work twice as hard.”

Councillor Lambert said in the future Rochdale will have a council that looks totally different.