Revised district council budget agreed by cabinet (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Revised district council budget agreed by cabinet

8:49am Thursday 24th January 2013 in W-Z

WYRE Forest District Council’s cabinet has agreed revised budget plans following a reduction in Government funding.

The council has seen a higher than expected cut of 9.4 per cent for the next financial year – significantly higher than the national average of 1.6 per cent.

The revised financial strategy for 2013/14 was agreed at a cabinetmeeting on Tuesday.

Conservative councillor Nathan Desmond, cabinet member for resources and transformation, said: “We were expecting rays of light at the end of the tunnel but the ray of sunshine has just been put back slightly.

It’s a smaller budget. This is a comprehensive package to deal with austere times.

“We’ve done everything we can to protect our frontline services.”

The Government announced in its December settlement that following the 9.4 per cent cut in 2013/14, a 16 per cent reduction will be made in funding in 2014/15 for Wyre Forest district.

Mr Desmond added: “It’s not all doom and gloom, as we are adding to the economic regeneration package we kicked off this financial year.”

The council invested £1 million to help businesses in 2012/13 and plans to add £500,000 in 2013/14.

Plans have also been made to freeze car parking charges in town centres until October, 2014. It will “go a significant way to supporting traders, our residents and our visitors,”

said Conservative councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for environmental services.

The revised financial strategy will now be scrutinised and a final decision made by full council on Wednesday, February 27.