How huge cuts in funding could affect public services in Lincolnshire...
Chief councillors are to debate the implications of huge cuts in funding from central government.
Cabinet members at Lincolnshire County Council will discuss how they plan to deal with the financial blow at a meeting of the executive tomorrow.
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It comes after secretary of state for communities and local government Eric Pickles announced they will slash the amount of cash they deliver to local authorities on December 20.
The meeting will be chaired by leader of the Conservative-led authority, Martin Hill.
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Here, the Echo takes a look at how finance officers at the council believe money will be spent...
COUNCIL TAX
It is likely Lincolnshire County Council will once again receive a council tax freeze grant from central government for 2013/14, meaning bills would not rise.
But, Lincolnshire residents are likely to see a two per cent rise for 2014/15 - a figure in line with the Government's current local authority tax referendum threshold.
ADULT SOCIAL CARE
The way in which care for vulnerable adults is organised cannot be sustained, according to a report by finance bosses. Despite making predicted savings of £9.5 million in 2012/13, further significant savings must be made.
The report says: "Further savings can and will be made. A complete transformation is required."
PUBLIC HEALTH
The provision of public health services will change from Primary Care Trusts to Lincolnshire County Council, from April 2013.
Following the Welfare Reform Act 2012, the council will take on the support of vulnerable people who would previously have been assessed for support from the social fund - community care grants and crisis loans.
The authority will receive a ring fenced grant to tackle public health responsibilities.
The proposed 2013/14 budget for the service is £18.2 million, according to the report.
CHILDREN'S SERVICES
The report states children's services face significant financial challenges - despite saving more than £22 million since 2011.
Further savings of £3.9 million will be made by 2015.
This comes after central Government announced a reduction to the Early Intervention Grant and the Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant following school conversions to academy status.
Tomorrow's meeting will take place at County Hall, Lincoln, and starts at 10.30am.
Comments
by M_C_Donald
Monday, January 07 2013, 9:51PM
“InsideStory
A huge saving would be made if no employee working for any company got paid sick leave and Statutory Sick Pay was abolished.”
by InsideStory
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:27PM
“An huge saving could be made if any new council employee did'nt get paid sick leave in their contract .”
by nolies
Monday, January 07 2013, 11:43AM
“First this government should stop giving away hundreds of millions of pounds we have to borrow ourselves to other countries that don't even need or deserve it,how can a country be billions of pounds in debt and lending even more money to send abroad just to make ourselves look good and at the same time cutting back on benefits and services for its own people ,its unbelievable”
by Pete_Lincoln
Monday, January 07 2013, 9:38AM
“Let's put these HUGE cuts into some context shall we? Lincolnshire will receive £243.74m in 2013/14 a reduction from the previous year of £8.35m (-3.3%) In 2014/15 they are due to receive £222.73m a further reduction of £21.02m (-8.6%). So in the space of 2 years the overall grant has been reduced by 29.36m from an original grant of £252.09m (-11.65%).
Savings already made, and in the pipeline, covers the reduction in central government grant. According to Councillor Kelly Smith - "Over the last two years, we have found savings of around £80 million and have plans in place that will bring a further £45 million of savings over the next two years." (http://tinyurl.com/a47kpvz) With the exception of some very specific areas of funding, allocation of the grant to District authorities is at the behest of the County Council, not central government.
These reductions in central government grants are not HUGE and if the County Council can save £125m in 3 years – vice the grant reduction of £29.36m – they clearly needed to re-focus on what they should have been doing all along.”
by WhistlingD
Monday, January 07 2013, 7:57AM
“How can you even think about taking more services away from the two areas where the people concerned can't look after themselves....vulnerable adults and children...what sort of society have we become....I sometimes depair.”