Alex Ganotis: Budget Approach Part of Clear Plan for Stockport’s Future

Stockport’s Council leader has spoken about how economic regeneration and reform form keystones to budget plans to protect services and promote sound finances- in a time of waning support from Government.

At the budget meeting of Thursday 22^nd February, Councillors voted through the second ever Labour budget. This contained plans to raise Council tax by 4.99%. Although not the maximum allowable, this means Council Tax will have gone up by the same amount two years running.

The Council faces a funding gap of £18million this year. This forms part of a funding gap of £50million needed by 2020/21, and comes on top of £100million in reduced resources faced by the Council since 2010. This rise bridges less than half (£7.1million) this year’s funding gap, with the rest having to be addressed via other means including reforming services, investing-to-save and measures to generate additional revenue.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Alex Ganotis explained:

“Our approach to the budget takes difficult decisions needed to protect the services upon which people rely and promote growing local economies as part of a clear, responsible plan for the future of Stockport.

“Our focus is on minimising impacts on front line services through promoting economic regeneration and reforming services. This approach ensures local growth which brings new jobs and services for residents, while securing the financial future of the Borough.

“The financial position Local Authorities are being been put in is deeply regrettable. Make no mistake; I am not happy about the level of rise we must ask from residents.

“This Council, like others, has seen Government support removed, while also being expected to shoulder blame for impacts upon residents from council tax rises and services reductions.

“However, as we saw at Budget Council, the largest opposition group, the Liberal Democrats, have put forward no serious alternatives to our clear and detailed plan.

“Labour has taken these difficult decisions precisely because we are serious about services, serious about Stockport and have a clear plan for the future of our Borough. “

The Labour administration has focused on reforming services in ways which do not reduce the frontline services people receive. These include extending the award winning Digital by Design programme to a second phase, reprofiling the Council’s insurance arrangements, maximising income from Council assets, and increasing income through the traded services the Council offers.

This year’s funding gap is largely the result of reductions in Government support for the Council, with the impact of this being exacerbated by rising demands. This is particularly felt in Children’s Services and Adult Social Care, the Council’s largest area of expenditure which is seeing rising costs and increased demand due to an ageing population.