Last night at the Executive meeting we announced our proposals for the Council’s 2012/13 budget, which will be consulted on over the next three months.

Bizarrely, there were media reports that we were somehow making changes to the current year’s budget (Granada and BBC). We’re not! The budget for 2011/12 is being implemented and so far we’re making all the savings we expected to (we’re slightly ahead of schedule).

Stockport Council’s Executive last night agreed to consult on and assess a range of budget proposals to save around £13.5 million – around 6% of its total spending – next year (2012-13).

Here’s the press release:

This Council agreed a balanced budget for 2011-12 earlier this year, and, following consultation, is now planning to deliver its budget for 2012-13 and beyond.

Councillor Dave Goddard, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “The current year’s balanced budget has already been planned and is being successfully delivered. The Council is ahead of the game once again in planning effectively for the future by considering next year’s budget early to balance the budget for 2012-13. We aim to protect front line services and minimise the impact of budget reductions on our community, and minimise the impact on our workforce. The proposals, which are out for consultation over the next three months, are not extra savings or extra job losses for the current financial year 2011-12 as has been implied by some media reports.”

“At the end of the consultation, the Council will finalise its proposals and produce a robust and balanced budget for 2012/13,” Cllr Goddard added.

Over the next three months the Council wants to hear from local residents, businesses, partners, employees and trades unions with views on the suggestions that have been drawn up for consultation and assessment.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Executive Member for Finance, said: “We have come up with a range of proposals based on 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.

“This is not about closing libraries or providing only critical social care. This is not about closing children’s centres and parks. Instead, in Stockport we are committed to redesigning services so that the savings have as little impact as possible on front line service to people in Stockport.

“Following the Executive decision, we have a three month period for people to study them and give us their views. There will be a wide range of events, meetings and questionnaires available for people to respond to throughout the autumn, so that in December we can draw up a final set of propositions”

A consultation has started on the council’s leisure strategy to ensure that quality services are provided in a sustainable way into the future. Other consultations will be held very soon on a range of proposals. You can find information online at www.stockport.gov.uk/haveyoursay and in libraries and other public buildings.

The budget proposals involve a reduction of 160 posts, of which 50 are already vacant. Volunteers will be sought for redundancy and early retirement and the Council will work closely with the trade unions to deliver the savings.

Cllr Derbyshire said: “As we have done previously, we will do everything we possibly can to minimise the effects of the budget reductions on the people of Stockport and the council’s workforce.

“The country’s economic situation requires us to dig deep, think creatively and identify new ways of delivering essential services at a lower cost base.”

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