Views wanted on latest Council saving plans

The Leader of Rochdale Counil Councillor Colin Lambert

Rochdale Borough Council has published details of another £14 million of savings. 

The proposals, which last week Councillors from all parties agreed should be put forward for public consultation as the third phase of measures to help save £64 million in the next financial year include: 

• £2.1 million, Adult Care - reductions to the Supporting People funding, delivering the reduction in the Supporting People Programme in line with government funding. Reduction in staff, rationalising floating support, renegotiating contracts, arrangements and values.
• £1.4 million, Finance /Legal /People Management/Performance and Transformation/Customers and Communications - reduction of posts, internal budgets and withdrawal of prompt payment discount (1.5%) for customers paying their council tax in full by 10 April.
• £1.5 million - Learners and Young People/Schools and Children’s Services - reduction in the number of posts and internal budget reductions.
• £1.2 million, Environmental Management and Business Partnerships - savings from partners, restructure of Environmental Management, reduction of posts in Business Partnerships, changes to bulky waste collection service and rural waste collection rounds, changes to frequency of the recycled waste collection service, review of countryside and street services.
• £2 million - Planning and Regulation/Strategic Housing/Regeneration - reduction in the number of posts together with internal budget reductions and increases in income. 

The money saving ideas are now on the council website (www.rochdale.gov.uk/yourviews) and you can comment on and rate the proposals.

You can also view printed reference copies of the proposals at the library, township office or council customer service centre. 

Council Leader Colin Lambert said: “We are asking residents how they want their money to be allocated. Please take a look and tell us what you think of the proposals. There are more tough decisions to be made but we want to continue to listen to what local people are telling us.”

“I realise everything we do matters to somebody, but we need to know what you could live without, or with less of, as times get tougher. Your views will help inform the difficult decisions we'll have to take on our budget over the next few years. We want to make changes that reflect our residents’ priorities, ensuring we deliver vital services for the widest amount of people.”

The closing date for phase three of the public consultation is Wednesday 1 June 2011 at 5pm. Consultation responses and suggestions will be considered before decisions are announced in late June.