£2.1m Funding Cut
The amount of money Rutland County Council receives from central government is due to fall by a total of £2.1 million during the next two yearsThe figures, released in the settlement announced on 13 December, show government funding for Rutland being reduced from £9.39 million (2010/11) to £8.04 million (2011/12) and then £7.25 million (2012/13).
Council Leader Roger Begy explained: 'Rutland County Council is facing a 14.3% reduction in funding during the next 12 months (compared to 2010/11). It’s important to also note that we still need to receive additional information on grants that may have disappeared. We are also still waiting for further information regarding schools funding'.
Roger Begy clarified, 'I’m sure that some residents will be confused after regional and national media reported a funding reduction of just 2.2% for Rutland. However, I’d like to take this opportunity to point out this figure includes a proposed grant to compensate for loss of income from a Council Tax freeze and also assumes a level of spending by the NHS on social care within Rutland'.
Roger Begy went on to say, 'We’re already in the process of making significant savings including 50-70 redundancies, a range of other savings agreed by Full Council, as well as a complete review of the services we provide and the way we provide them. The figures released as part of the settlement paint a bleaker picture than we anticipated but work has already started to find a way of making the extra savings needed'.
Savings already being implemented by Rutland County Council include:
• Job Cuts – A total of £1.4 million is to be found through a corporate restructure at Rutland County Council which will result in around 50-70 jobs being lost.
• Other Savings – A total of £900,000 savings were agreed at Full Council on 8 November 2010 not related to frontline services.
• Service Changes – The Council is considering the detailed information published for the provisional grant settlements in drawing up budget proposals for 2011/12 and will be consulting with local taxpayers and business representatives early in 2011.
I am not sure if this info is true, I am told Helen Briggs Chief Excutive of Rutland County Council has put her house on the market. The member of the public asked is she on the run? how would I know? If this is true I can only assume she is going into hiding, from all the hard working staff she has sacked? or maybe she is moving into a big property after receiving a bonus or payrise? or is it to justify the £9,000 car allowance?
