Proposed budget plans today by Wirral Council reveal that up to 200 jobs could be cut in an effort to balance the books. These new measures will be considered by councillors at a meeting taking place on February 19th.
An external auditor said that the Council faces “an extremely challenging financial situation with significant financial pressures creating budget overspends combined with low levels of reserves”.
Wirral Council is facing a budget gap of £35million according to reports, with an almost £10million increase to council tax set to reduce this to £25million.
Cuts include a £160k reduction in building cleaning, which the council claims would have ‘no impact to service’, and the ceasing of concierge services at buildings other than Wallasey Town Hall.
A Birkenhead resident who did not wish to be named said: “Don’t even talk to me about the council, it’s outrageous.”
Cuts also include a review of adult social care costs, which is forecasted to see a £7.81m overspend, alongside Children, Families & Education which had an overspend of £9.657m, with significant pressures from costs of children in residential placements and home to school transport.
Amongst the budget cuts the council has listed £300k in unpaid debt that it is seeking to recover.
