Job and service cuts possible at Pymouth City Council and council tax will rise
JOBS could be lost and cuts to frontline services cannot be ruled out, the city's new finance supremo has warned.
In his first interview since taking office, Cabinet member for finance Cllr Mark Lowry also warned council tax is likely to rise next year.
-
His interview comes as the Government tightens the screw on public spending.
Painting a bleak picture of the next few months, Cllr Lowry told The Herald:
From Monday to Friday,
Come and enjoy our special menu at £12 per person for 3 course-meal.
Terms:
Not in conjunction with any other offers.
From Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner.
Subject to availability.
Contact: 01752 424381
Valid until: Wednesday, July 31 2013
The council has ordered a 'complete review' of its spending.
Frontline services are under threat.
Jobs could be cut unless the Government gives the council more cash.
Council tax is likely to go up next year – but he ruled out a big rise.
The council wants residents to join the fight and help it cut costs.
Cuts to council tax benefits could hit people living on their own.
There could be major changes in the way libraries are used – but they will not be closed.
Business rate reforms are likely to hit Plymouth disproportionately.
The worst of the Government cuts are still to come.
Asked where the axe could fall, Cllr Lowry said: "It's too early to say what cuts will be made. The first thing we have done is to order a complete review."
He said the full impact of the Government's austerity measures had yet to be felt.
"For every £1 of proposed cuts, only 12p has been delivered so far," said Cllr Lowry.
Changes in Government legislation would add pressure to the council's budget and services, which are facing a 28per cent cut over four years.
Reform of business rates could also have a massive impact. At present all business rates are paid to the Government, which redistributes the money. In future each area would retain its own business rates income, which would hit cities like Plymouth with fewer businesses.
"If the Government presses ahead with that legislation, the city will have no choice but to cut frontline services."
And he said that unless Government cash came with some of the new legislation, more council jobs could be at risk.
"Plymouth has suffered disproportionately more than any other council in Southern England. You have to venture into the North of England to see cuts on the same scale."
He insisted that city libraries were safe but the Labour group would be looking at ways to make them more profitable, which could mean using them as community hubs.
He criticised his Tory predecessor, Cllr Ian Bowyer, for "frittering away" the £19million from the sale of Citybus.
Cllr Lowry said he was handed a poisoned chalice by the outgoing Conservative administration. One of their last acts was to accept a one-off Government grant to freeze the 2012/13 council tax.
"That will make it more difficult to keep council tax down next year," Cllr Lowry said.
But he ruled out big council tax increases.
He said: "Absolutely not. At a time when the Government has sent the economy into a double-dip recession it would be inappropriate to make a disproportionate council tax rise."
And he said the city had to "offer Whitehall and ministers solutions, not problems".
"We must ensure that if the Government does come to its senses and introduces a 'Plan B' for growth, Plymouth is well placed to be at the front of the queue.
"We are not going to get a sugar daddy to help us. We need to help ourselves – and that means all citizens of Plymouth."
Cllr Bowyer denied that he had "frittered away" the proceeds of the Citybus sale.
He said much of it had been used in the "Spend to Save" programme, which included cutting the number of council office buildings from nine to three.
"Mr Lowry is now enjoying revenue savings of £1.5million a year because of that."
The full council also approved using £1.6million of Citybus cash to buy back Home Park.
Mr Bowyer said it made sense to use the money rather than invest it because it was earning only 1per cent interest while the cost of borrowing was 4per cent.
Comment: Page 11
Comments
by shipmateron
Saturday, June 02 2012, 2:11PM
“[thud thud thud thud] That's the sound of me banging my head on the table Nickers. I cannot believe there is still someone out there who falls for the 'if you don't vote then you don't have a voice' con. Think about it mate, it's kids' stuff. The government peddle that line because it suits THEM not you. Think about it for just one minute. If you vote and your vote helps to elect ineffective, incompetent, self-interested people into office who mess everything up whilst lining their own pockets, then YOU are responsible for it, since it was YOUR vote that put them there, so you have NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to complain about it. Whereas people like ME, who stayed at home all day and didn't vote, have an ABSOLUTE right to voice my displeasure at the antics of these selfish idiots since I am in no way responsible for them being where they are. Show me a young, intelligent, caring, conscientious person who actually wants to do good for the people and I might change my mind. Oh, hang on, we are living in a post Thatcher society, so I forgot myself for a split second as that sort of person does not exist in Britain of course. Young people are too busy texting or downloading apps on their phones to notice anything so boring as politics. [thud thud thud thud] Oh no, there I go again, ouch!”
by Arfurmo
Saturday, June 02 2012, 9:00AM
“Now! Now Rocky 23 . The honour for destroying the city has been already attributed to 'Viv'. Whilst all the moaners and wasters certainly discovered the vital 'Clue' to end her reign and her dream of being voted the National Council Leader of the year. Fetching her down unceremonously off her ill gotten pedestal onpolling day. Of course anyone that does'nt roll over and accept being the cause of the country's misfortunes doesn't give credit to the well off and Millionaire Ministers and their comforted greed driven Bankers who will work day and night and move heaven and earth in order to see that the discomfort is shifted squarely onto the shoulders of the less well off.”
by BillyBall
Friday, June 01 2012, 10:14AM
“Get shot of half the coucillors.”
by BillyBall
Friday, June 01 2012, 10:13AM
“Here go again !!!! The Welsh Weeble and his "Thickos"
I say turn the lights out when the last one leaves. But somes stolen the bulb, switch and cable.”
by Scoops007
Thursday, May 31 2012, 10:11PM
“Things can only get better, **snigger**”
by 147ref
Thursday, May 31 2012, 9:55PM
“get rid of the high earners or bring the wages down, those on council earning 20K +, then no need to touch the front line”
by Peter20113
Thursday, May 31 2012, 9:41PM
“@rocky 23
You contradict yourself in everything you say”
by jabbathebutt
Thursday, May 31 2012, 9:34PM
“I dont know anyone who has a pay rise in the last few years . But things like this go up and up with some excuse or the other .And it isnt just labour or the cons ... its the whole caboodle - food - fuel - gas - elecric ,the list goes on .
There is not one week where we do not get poorer every day .
And all the time the guilt factor is aimed at anyone who complains .... "you aint working hard enough"
There is no extra money in this sponge that they are trying to get every single drip out of while I see extravagant abuse by our leaders every single day Lording it over us . They talk about "austerity measures" .... well in my 60 years I have never know anything else .... except the naming of the latest thing to con people changes . You lot voted for the same old three like sheep .... this is what you have given yourselves and your grandchildren.... so stop ef.fing moaning .”
by Rocky23
Thursday, May 31 2012, 8:47PM
“All you low paid socialist supporter's who voted Tudor and his rabble in are now going to pay extra council tax, if you work for the council, your probably going to get sacked and if you want to try and swim at the free pools your now going to have to pay.
BRILLIANT, all those moaners and wasters blaming 'VIV' for all the bad things in their lives clearly haven't a clue. This Welshman will destroy Plymouth.
He's only been in charge for two weeks, god help us all”
by ewan55
Thursday, May 31 2012, 8:08PM
“Dear Cllr Lowry, so you want to up council tax (as stated before you got elected, well at least thats honest and I think a magic 2.5% rise was quoted). Council Tax can be reduced by 8% quite easily with no reductions in the essential services the taxpayer are paying (extortion) for now. If you want some help in achieving this I can help.....”