The Council’s Cabinet yesterday confirmed that its budget strategy for the coming financial year protects frontline services and jobs.
At a special budget Cabinet meeting held yesterday, members reiterated that the recent decisions taken alongside a continued efficiency drive means that the Council can bridge its £14M budget gap.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Russell Roberts described the position as a ‘huge achievement.’
Speaking directly following the meeting, Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor Russell Roberts said:
“Despite the Council receiving its lowest ever settlement, as a direct consequence of the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, we have been able to protect the important public services we provide, by taking a number of difficult decisions.
“The Council has already achieved £40M of efficiency savings in recent years and by continuing with this approach, alongside other key decisions we can effectively bridge the £14M budget gap we faced as a result of spending cuts.
“This is a huge achievement, as in these difficult times, the public will become ever more reliant on the important services we provide.
“I must praise the support and priority given to local government by the Welsh Assembly.
“Thanks to their priorities, local government and Rhondda Cynon Taf have been protected from some of the potentially devastating cuts that are being implemented across the border in England.
“We have all recently heard through the media how some of the English cities are set to lose Leisure Centres, Libraries and Day Care Facilities; thankfully this will not be the case here.
“I know other Welsh Councils are also facing similar scenarios and difficult service decisions, I am pleased we are able to avoid these kinds of cuts.
“As part of our 2011/12 Budget Strategy we have proposed continued investment in key areas such as refuse collection and recycling, services for the Elderly and areas such as services and activities for Young People.
“This is a Budget Strategy which protects jobs and frontline services and limits the impact of the current financial climate locally.”
At the meeting Cabinet also discussed where to apply additional funds it will receive from the Assembly Government as part of the final Local Government Settlement allocation for the County.
Cllr Russell Roberts added:
“There has been an increase from the provisional funding settlement to the final funding amount we will receive. The Council welcomes this additional support from the Welsh Assembly Government.
“We are well aware that one of residents’ main concerns is the wear and tear our highway network has experienced as a result of the severe winter weather over the last two years.
“We recognise this concern and Cabinet agreed that this extra funding resource should be specifically targeted, using prudential borrowing, toward maintenance and repair of our road network. An additional programme of highway improvements worth approximately £5M will now be made possible.
“Cabinet wholeheartedly agreed improvements to our highways should be a key priority for any additional financial resource in the coming year.”
The Cabinet’s budget strategy will be presented to full Council on February 23rd
