The provisional Government grant over the next three years for St Edmundsbury, announced today, is "simply insufficient" according to the borough council's portfolio holder for Resources and Efficiency, Cllr Paul Farmer.
Cllr Farmer said:
"We are still studying the detail, but the bottom line is that we are getting an extra £151,000 for 2008/09, and then just £72,000, followed by £70,000 in the following years. That is simply insufficient to cover all the increases in costs that we face.
Given the level of inflation this is effectively a cut in grant over three years, and one which our already hard-pressed Council Tax payers will have to meet.
This level of grant would be more palatable if we did not have to find new money for the various government initiatives and mandates that are not sufficiently funded. Concessionary fares, for example, is already costing Council Tax payers £6.50 and is set to rise even further."
Senior council staff and members will now see how best to balance the council's books, Cllr Farmer added, in their continued effort to cut costs but not services.
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
