Darlington outlines budget proposals
Darlington Borough Council has today (4 Feb) published full details of its budget proposals for the next four years.
The proposals are outlined in a series of reports – available online at www.darlington.gov.uk - that are to be considered by members of the Council’s Cabinet at a meeting next week.
Councillor Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said:
“The proposals do not make for easy reading. We’re facing an overall drop in funding in real terms of £43.6m over the period 2010 to 2020 due to significant public sector cuts introduced by the Government.
“These austerity measures are still having an impact and the funding we receive from Government has been reduced by another £11m bringing our total budget for 2019/20 down to £87.4m.
“This will only just cover the costs of complying with the approximate 1,300 duties we’re required to meet by law, the biggest being in relation to social care which costs £54m.
“We’ve therefore had to make some tough decisions and are using all our reserves to give us £2.5m a year over the next four years – our Future’s Fund - for services we don’t have to provide, which currently cost £12.5m.
“We’ve had to choose which we can continue to fund – those that add great value to Darlington and its residents and that we think are most valued by our residents. This means we have retained the Dolphin Centre, a library service and aspects of the Borough’s heritage, alongside essential services that protect the most vulnerable in or society.
“Most people in the Borough do not use many of our services but I know they care deeply about those services they do use, and in some cases rely on. It has been a juggling act, but there are certain services that we have to provide by law and we’ve tried to ensure a ‘core offer’ that has value for the majority of residents.”
Cllr Dixon added:
“In drawing up the proposals we have taken into account our One Darlington Perfectly Placed policy, drawn up in consultation and agreed with public and voluntary organisations which belong to the One Darlington Partnership. We’ve also listened to the views of local people, submitted through both formal consultations and other less formal ways.
“However, I’d like to remind people that these cuts only affect the Council’s spending – they do not affect the aspirations of the town.
“Everywhere I look I see new private sector development and investment coming into the town, from the new cinema complex to Central Park, and as long as people continue to see a future for the town it will grow.
“Darlington’s biggest asset has always been its people and as we see services we have relied on being steadily cut, now is the time for us all to step up and think what we can do for our community, however large or small. By working together and helping each other, Darlington can continue to be a great place to live, work and visit.”
During the next week, full details of the budget proposals will be made available online at www.darlington.gov.uk/budget and members of the public are invited to express their views by emailing [email protected].
The proposals will go before Cabinet to agree launch of public consultation at its meeting on Thursday, 11 February which will be held in Dolphin Centre (Central Hall), at 5pm.
Two special information sessions have also been organised to give members of the public the chance to find out more and ask questions. These will be held in the Central Hall at the Dolphin Centre on Wednesday, 16 March the first 2-4pm followed by an evening session 6-8pm.