Credit Crunch Means Milton Keynes Council Must Tighten its Belt (Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats)

Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats <info@mk-libdems.co.uk>

Credit Crunch Means Milton Keynes Council Must Tighten its Belt

July 24, 2009 10:28 AM

Milton Keynes Council is looking at greater efficiencies to make the public purse stretch even further in the face of the credit crunch.

The Council is looking at a wide range of efficiencies, including closer examination of spending within each individual department and reducing the use of temporary staff and consultants.

Front-line staff, including teachers, refuse and recycling collectors, social workers, carers, road gritters and 'lollipop' people, will be protected as much as possible, with the savings and efficiencies coming from 'back office' functions.

Liberal Democrat Council Leader, Sam Crooks, said that it was essential to plan for the future, including a likely reduction in government funding for the Council, which accounts for 75% of the Council's overall funding.

The credit crunch has also had an impact on the Council's 'income generating' activities, such as building control fees (due to the slowdown in building) and use of leisure and sports facilities.

Sam said: "We have to be realistic. Like everywhere else, we are feeling the pinch and, like everywhere else, we are going to have to tighten our belts. It's not all cuts though - we've been burning the midnight oil to identify areas that must have money spent on them. For example we've put aside £250,000 for primary school repairs and refurbishment, and thousands of pounds on school crossing patrols. But we do need to take action now, in order to be better prepared for the rougher times which will almost certainly come later. If we take the strain now it means less pain later on. This is not a spending freeze but I am asking managers to be even more efficient in the face of a very tight economic situation."