How Local Government is 'Facing the Cuts'

By Paul Scoins
BBC Three Counties

The recession is sure to impact on local services and the public sector

Speak to any councillor you can find, and they'll tell you pretty much the same thing.

That this recession is forcing councils to look very hard at the way they operate and that things can't go on as they are.

As budget meetings finalise how much the council tax increase should be, it's inevitable that savings will be made - and in some cases those savings are eye-watering.

Local Government experts predict that councils around the country will need to make reductions in their budget by 16-17% across the board.

Many councils across Beds, Herts and Bucks have been forced to address the way they run and look to streamline their processes, though which many are calling 'efficiency savings'.

The BBC asked local council chief executives to complete a survey of where they anticipated seeing a reduction in spending, which suggests that money for libraries, the arts and leisure looks most vulnerable, though there does seem to be an increase in cash for children's social services and homelessness, which may be a further indication of the tough economic climate we find ourselves in at the moment.

What does that mean in reality?

All of the councils I've spoken to - Milton Keynes Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Luton Borough Council, Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council - have said they want to protect front-line services, meaning that ideally council tax payers shouldn't see much change.

But when the county councils and unitary authorities across Beds, Herts and Bucks have to save a combined figure of around £90 million this year alone, it's hard to see how some areas of service won't be affected.

So where are the savings likely to come from?

There will be some jobs lost. Across the country, councils are set to lose at lease 25000 positions over the next 3-5 years. There's also likely to be more emphasis on sharing services, like waste disposal - something Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire have already begun to discuss.

And the way that care is provided is set to change, under what is being called 'personalisation' of services. This means that you could have responsibility for your own care package - from working out how much you've got to where you spend it, there will be a greater emphasis on your own needs, the councils say.

Social care is also a huge area of spend for councils - and it's increasing. Since the tragic case of Baby P, councils in Beds, Herts and Bucks have seen applications for children to be placed in care increase by up to 40%. That's not to say there are 40% more children in care, but the time taken on investigating the cases combined with problems recruiting social workers - especially in Herts and Bucks (because of the proximity to London, where social workers can earn more money), means councils are further stretched.

Council tax

Council tax payers won't want to pay any more than they have to - and most of the rises are around 2% or frozen in some cases - though as the three-year plans that authorities have been finalising in the last few weeks are implemented, expect to see further reductions in spending.

Would you accept cuts in rubbish collections?

You might have to call your council, rather than go and see someone in person.

You might find that your bins are collected by another council's vans (or even once a fortnight).

You might find that the local library doesn't have that new book you've been asking for - it might even have to reduce the hours it opens.

You might find the local day centre your elderly relative visits closes in favour of more care in the home or instead there's money for them to go to the cinema.

Council leaders say they've tried to limit the pain, and use the recession as an opportunity to make a better use of resources they already had. To what extent they can do that without impacting on the services you use remains to be seen.