Revised budget proposals published

DARLINGTON Borough Council today publishes its final set of budget proposals, which include several changes arising from an extensive public consultation process.

As a result of lower grants from Central Government, the Council needs to remove £10m from its budget by 2020, on top of the cuts of £37.3m made since 2010.

The revised budget proposals contain responses received during the 15-week consultation, including Equality Impact Assessments which assess the impact of the cuts on disabled and vulnerable people, in addition to the full range of protected characteristics.

Following the consultation, more than 15 changes have been made to the original Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) proposals which were published in February.

Changes to the budget proposals include:

• Setting aside one-off funding of £100,000 to help further reduce the impact of cuts affecting vulnerable groups
• Blue Badge holders will now be able to transfer tickets between car parks (short stay to short stay; long stay to long stay)
• An additional £30,000 for the Crisis Support social fund which helps support vulnerable adults
• Cuts to the bus pass scheme for companions of disabled people will be deferred while a new option is explored
• Implementation of reduced support for disabled children aged 0-3 is being deferred until next April so the service can be redesigned within the Early Help service
• The Council and Darlington Clinical Commissioning Group have agreed to work in partnership to create a targeted fund supporting voluntary sector activity. The fund will be matched by County Durham Community Foundation
• Deferring the closure of Cockerton Library until 31 March 2017, to allow time for Darlington for Culture to develop a business case for taking over the running of the library as a community asset
• Deferring the closure of The Bridge arts centre until 31 March 2017, to allow more time for the business case to be progressed
• The creation of an Environmental Enforcement team within the Street Scene budget. Members will be asked to consider private sector enforcement options and the Council will seek to work more closely with volunteers in this area
• External funding has been obtained for cycle and pedestrian training and elements of the Sustainable Transport programme.

Other proposals in the MTFP are unchanged, including plans to relocate Darlington’s main library from Crown Street to a purpose-built facility in the Dolphin Centre. Officers and councillors held many meetings to explore potential alternatives. However, having carefully considered all responses to the consultation and the business plan submitted by Darlington for Culture, the Cabinet remains of the view that it is in the best long-term interests of the library service to go ahead with the relocation.

Councillor Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “We recognise and acknowledge the strength of public feeling around the library proposals, which was demonstrated during the consultation. We are grateful for all the comments received and the alternative proposals that have been put forward. We have listened to and considered what people have had to say, but in the interests of providing a sustainable library service, as well as securing the long-term future of the Dolphin Centre, the recommendation is that councillors support the proposal to move the library from Crown Street.

“I would also like to reassure the public that there is no question whatsoever of the Crown Street building being demolished. Its status as a listed building means there is no chance of any future owner being able to knock it down and start again.

“At the heart of these budget proposals has been our unshakeable desire to minimise the impact of the cuts we are being forced to make on the most vulnerable members of our society.

“I am pleased that we have been able to make a number of positive changes to the budget proposals that we hope will help to achieve our aim of protecting the vulnerable while fulfilling the Council’s legal requirements.

“I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation process, which was unprecedented in the history of this authority. I am not aware of such an extensive process anywhere else. The public and our partners have shown during the consultation that they understand that we have some very difficult decisions to make while setting this budget, following significant reductions in our funding and increase in demand for our services.”

The proposals will be discussed at a Special Cabinet meeting at 5pm on Wednesday 22 June before all elected members have the chance to vote on them at a Special Council meeting on Wednesday 29 June.

Details of how members of the public can register to speak at the forthcoming Special Cabinet and Special Council meetings will be published on the Council’s website.