WARRINGTON Borough Council is better placed to deal with the economic situation than many other councils – which means there will be minimum Town Hall job losses.
That was the message from Cllr Paul Campbell, (pictured right) executive member for finance when the authority’s executive board approved its budget for the coming year.
He did not reveal how many council jobs are to go – he has previously indicated that the council does not yet know the extent of job losses.
But he said the budget would provide three important things for both the immediate and long term future of Warrington.
1. There would be minimum job losses for council employees.
2. There would no increase in council tax.
3. A capital investment programme would help bring jobs and prosperity to local businesses and people in the months and years ahead.
The board approved spending of £154.822 million in 2011-2012, net of a Dedicated Schools Grant of £140,350 million.
This will mean council tax on an average Band D house will again be £1,136.64.
Cllr Campbell said it was not a budget he wanted to present for the people of Warrington, but one he had to present because of national, rather than local, circumstances.
But Warrington had looked at the future some time ago, seen the dangers and taken early steps to deal with them.
Cllr Bob Timmis said it was due to work carried out over the last three years that Warrington was in a better position than other councils who were announcing “horrendous” job losses and measures such as closing half their libraries and leisure centres
Council leader Ian Marks said Warrington had done a good job in protecting front line services. The council had consulted more widely than ever before and had changed its priorities as a result of the feedback. They had kept cuts to support for voluntary services to a minimum.
Other priorities were support for local businesses, highways maintenance, community safety and attracting private 
sector money into the town.
After the meeting, Labour leader Cllr Terry O’Neill (left) said the report on the draft budget was “just a smokescreen” to hide massive job cuts and slashed front line services being imposed on the people of Warrington.
He said: “Surely the people deserve more transparency from this Lib Dem-Tory administration than a simple one page table showing how they plan to slash £18.2 million from frontline services.
“There’s no mention of how many jobs will be cut. We already know they’re going to close down Grappenhall and Great Sankey libraries, -what other community facilities are in the firing line?
“The only honest thing that came out of the meeting was the acknowledgement that these cuts are because of the national government’s policy. I note that the Lib Dem leader of the council himself signed an open letter to the Times, along with 91 other Lib Dem colleagues, criticising his own government for making swingeing cuts to local government grants too fast and too deep. It’s just a shame he couldn’t have said it to the people of Warrington directly.”
Council job losses will be minimal
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
8 Comments
Can someone tell me how many people have left WBC over the last 18 months during the restructuring which has had a serious impact on the service that the council provides?
The bulk of the job losses has already taken place, hence the Cllr can make that comment.
Redesign of departments will be done – For 3 years public services have had to make savings forced on government departments by Labour – frontline services will be protected – Cllr O’Neill is requesting more transparency- Cllr O’Neill I take it you will be able to tell me what the £80 Billion cuts would have been under Labour – come on tell us all ?? You talk the talk as always but once again you can’t walk the walk!!! As for being critical of the Government – At least Cllr Mark’s is standing up for Warrington residents – Well done for standing up for people because thats why we elect you – We now know what Cllr O’Neill would do and its a big fat ZERO – what are you doing on fuel duty? nothing at least Cllr Marks and Bland are – At last Warrington has people standing up for it – I didn’t see or hear from you when the 10p tax rate away from 5.4 million families – you agreed with your Labour Government then because as always Labour Cllrs sat on their hands – Labour Cllrs I understand can’t even be bothered to turn up for meeting – We pay you an allowance – something you have done very nice from i understand. So come on Cllr O’Neill what would you do with this budget How would you spend the money????????? REMEMBER IT WAS YOUR LABOUR GOVERNMENT THAT HAS LEFT THE UK BROKE……..Does Warrington want Labour to run this Town again because that’s the choice Warrington – At the next General Election you can make your protest but for heavens sake look at the facts – I understand that the LIB DEMs/Con’s did more in 23 months than Labour did in 23 years running the Council and that comes from the staff.
I understand that our national debt is £1 trillion and rising, added to that are future pension liabilities and things like PFIs, there are also substantial debts. The total figur being talked about is £4 trillion. Can somebody explain how and when it will be paid off, or is it jst going to be left to future generations to sort out. I understand that even with the cuts being introduced and the increase in taxes, the national debt will still increase.
Well – Labours way is spend spend and spend again even when the till is empty. If action hadn’t been taken we would be once again looking toward the IMF.
If the town votes for Labour it will be the death nail for the town – The staff at the town hall are fearing Labour – it’s no joke. Your right debt is increaseing and its the working man that is feeling the pain for Gordon Brown’s way of handling the money.
Warrington must say no to Labour and say yes to Lib Dems/Con’s to keep Warrington moving forward.
Terry O’n – don’t make me laugh – Your crew will kill this town
The Tories are recruiting younger and younger it seems! Is this the might of the Con propaganda machine? I think Terry O’Neill will be the one having a laugh!
he does when picking up his allowances month on month – ITS wARRINGTON PEOPLE PAYING FOR HIM AND HIS DAYS OUT WITH HIS COAL BOARD MATES
he does when picking up his allowances month on month – ITS wARRINGTON PEOPLE PAYING FOR HIM AND HIS DAYS OUT WITH HIS COAL BOARD MATES