Council Expecting £6,000,000 Deeper Hole

We have previously reported how the council have £40,000,000 worth of savings and cuts to be made over the next five years – minimum – and how the council are being encouraged to ‘think different‘ to make that happen, however on Tuesday we were told how a further £6,000,000 worth of savings are likely to have to be made.

Last week the national spending review took place, which included confirmed spending for a North Wales prison likely to be in Wrexham, however it also included further cuts to budgets which will impact Wrexham. The full impact of the national cuts are not expected to be known properly until later in the year.

The possible savings were being made in light of next weeks Executive Board meeting, which will includes reviews of the Council’s Capital Programme and a report on Social Services.

Members of the Executive Board will be asked to approve a capital programme of £57million for the next four years. This expenditure will mainly be used in respect of schools (£25m), highways maintenance (£4.1m) and housing renewal and disabled facility grants (£6.1m).

During 2012/13 the Council spent £27.7 million on capital projects which included:

• £6.9m on the new industrial access road
• £2.7m on highways maintenance
• £6.7m on schools (including £3.3m on the new Welsh medium school in Gwersyllt)
• £1.8m on the redevelopment of the western part of Wrexham town
• £2.2m on housing renewal and home renovation

Each of these capital projects were funded through a combination of Welsh Government and other grants and contributions, borrowing and capital receipts.

The spending last year of £27.7 million appears to be dropping by around 51%  for the coming year , as £57 million divided by the four year period is £14.25 million per year. Of course the entire £57 million could be spent in a single year, or could change.

Every year the Director of Social Services is required to produce an Annual Report on the performance of Social Services. The report is based on a range of information including feedback from service users, inspection and audit reports, performance information and consultations with user groups, staff and partner organisations. Services have been improved and developed with regards to waiting times for services, which are now just over three weeks and a reduction in the numbers of Delayed Transfers of Care.

One service that was highlighted by Councillor Michael Williams was the Reablement service, which provides intensive support to enable independent living by retraining those who have suffered an accident or the like to get their life back on track.

Cllr Williams described the service as a “very successful initiative.”

Councillor Neil Rogers said: “We have a clear commitment and prioritise services for the most vulnerable and in need.”

The report describes a position of continued improvement despite the challenges the Council are currently facing. These include increasing demand for services, demographic changes and major financial / welfare changes at a National level.

We will link to the reports once they are live on the Council’s website…