14 Sep 2012
Stockport Council wants you to have your say on a range of proposals as it takes the next steps to reduce its spending.

The Council is changing the way it delivers its services and needs to find further savings of around £24 million over the next two financial years.

The financial year 2013/14 will be the third year of the Council’s current medium term financial plan developed in response to the government’s spending review and consequent decline in grant support to local authorities.

So far proposals are being considered which identify £15.6 million of savings for the next two financial years. At this stage it is anticipated that about £9.9 million of these savings can be delivered during 2013/14.
 
Over the next three months the Council wants to hear from local people, businesses, partners, employees and unions with views on the suggestions that have been drawn up for consultation and assessment.
 
Consultations start on 14th September on a range of proposals. You will be able to find information online at www.stockport.gov.uk/haveyoursay and in libraries and other public buildings.
 
The Leader of Stockport Council, Councillor Sue Derbyshire, said: “Each year it is getting harder and harder to find efficiency savings. However, we have come up with a range of proposals based on principles such as increasing value-for-money, reducing duplication and giving people choice over the personal services they want to use. We want a full and meaningful consultation, and we want everyone to play their part.
 
“In Stockport we are committed to redesigning and changing services so that the savings have as little impact as possible on front line services to people in Stockport. The proposals were considered at the Executive Meeting on September 7th. This will be followed by a consultation period starting in the autumn for people to look over the proposals and give us their views.
 
“There will be a wide range of events, meetings and questionnaires available for people to respond throughout the autumn, so that by 17th December our Executive meet up they can have a final set of propositions to ensure we produce a balanced budget for 2013/14 and begin planning for 2014/15.”
 
For the period 2013/15 it is proposed that the above dates are the first of three phases for the Executive to consider the emerging saving proposals.
 
Included in the proposals the Council will be consulting on are:

• Council Tax Support Scheme
• Council Tax Discount Scheme
• Review of Cultural Assets
• Blue Badges (Disabled Parking Permits)

It is anticipated that over the next two years the Council’s workforce is likely to be reduced by up to 500 fulltime posts. Volunteers will be sought for redundancy and early retirement. The Council will work closely with the trade unions and is committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies as far as possible.
 
Councillor Derbyshire added: “We are as committed as ever to do everything possible to reduce the effects of the budget reductions on the people of Stockport and the Council’s workforce.”