The Council’s Cabinet, which has recommended the budget strategy for the full Council to approve on 1st March, met on Monday to consider detailed plans for the Council’s spending for next year.

The Council’s Formula Grant, which alongside the Council Tax, funds Ashfield’s spending, has been reduced by 23% over the two years 2011/12 and 2012/13.  But a combination of shared service proposals, efficiency reviews, management rationalisation and a tight control on recruitment means that £1.5m of budget reduction have already been found.

During 2011/12, Ashfield plans to develop further efficiency proposals, as well as a review of fees and charges.  The Council will use £2m of its reserves to ensure that it has time to improve the efficiency of the services which it provides, in order to avoid cuts to front line services.

The Cabinet also approved plans to maintain the contribution it makes to the district’s voluntary groups at current levels.

Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Customer Services Councillor Trevor Locke said:

“We hope that this budget will be welcomed by Ashfield's residents, as it avoids reductions to the services they have told us they value.  Our plans to improve the Council's efficiency are ambitious, and there is much hard work to be done, but we firmly believe that this is the right course of action for the district.

This challenging financial settlement from the Government has been expected for some time, so we have ensured that the Council has maintained its reserves, to give us time to streamline and improve many of our larger areas of spending, such as Planning, Housing Benefits, and Waste Services. We will do this in a way that improves what the customer experiences, and minimise the cost of back office support to the front line.”

The Leader of the Independent and Conservative Alliance, Councillor Mrs Gail Turner commented:

“While the level of cuts in grant from the government is unprecedented, as councillors we are determined to ensure that our front line services continue to improve.  We are equally keen to scrutinise the services which support the front line, to make sure that no opportunity to make efficiencies is lost.”

Residents can have their say, by visiting the on line questionnaire on the Council's web site and Facebook page. 

Councillor Locke added:

“The more that residents can tell us about their experience of our services, good or bad, the more this will help us to improve how we deliver them”