Bills to rise and services cut in Neath Port Talbot to save £20m
HUGE spending cuts are on their way to Neath Port Talbot where council chiefs must axe more than £20 million from their budgets over the next five years.
Services will be hit to the tune of £14 million and the council has warned it will have to reduce its staff costs by around £2 million, though it has no plans for compulsory redundancies.
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Neath Port Talbot Council chief executive Steve Phillips
Fees and charges and council tax bills are also set to rise to provide around £4 million worth of extra income to help close the budget gap.
Copies of a letter by chief executive Steve Phillips explaining the grim situation have been sent to all staff, while briefings have taken place for council workers, councillors and for trade union representatives.
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Over the previous five years the authority has had to cut spending by £30 million, so on the face it the required £21 million reduction between 2013 and 2018 would appear to be less damaging.
But officials say the previous reductions have made it a lot harder to bridge the gap.
"There is very little good news in these proposals and I shall not pretend otherwise," Mr Phillips said in his letter to staff.
"You do not need me to tell you about the current climate of financial austerity, zero economic growth and continuing crisis in the eurozone."
No decisions have yet been made, but directors have set out a series of proposals that councillors will have to rule on in the months ahead.
"The council's priorities remain the protection of key public services, particularly for the vulnerable and the most disadvantaged in our communities," said a spokesman.
"The authority also wishes to protect jobs in its workforce to the maximum extent possible.
"The package of proposals seeks maximum fairness and equity in difficult circumstances.
"The cuts will impact on frontline services, terms and conditions of staff, the fees and charges that residents pay for some services, and council tax levels. A balance between all these factors is essential."
In his letter, Mr Phillips did a positive message for staff. "We have been in this position before and managed it — and we can do it again, if we all pull together," he said.
Mr Phillips referred to the "robust and constructive" relationship between the council and its communities, elected members and officers, unions and management, and with all its partners.
"We cannot afford to fail," he added.
Comments
by intelligent1
Tuesday, November 06 2012, 5:40PM
“Curios Pt - it is however a comparison to a place where there is a better environment and facilities overall. Perhaps I should compare to Swansea £990.91, surely you cant argue that Swansea is not close enough and as far as I am aware has a far superior range of facilities.”
by CuriousPT
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 6:56AM
“@sochat - what are you talking about?”
by sochat
Monday, October 29 2012, 9:58PM
“CuriousPT
Alias neathboy234.”
by CuriousPT
Monday, October 29 2012, 6:33PM
“@intelligent1 - very interesting comparators - i wouldn't have chosen two entirely different localities - Bridgend appeared more sensible to me. Noted their tax is lower too. I must admit that when I've recently been to Pembroke, quite a few of the towns looked rather run down, but lets be honest you're just not coming close to comparing like with like.
You're unable to comment on how the Council is wasting money, so that's the end of your argument I'm afraid. No need for me to ask the Council, I'm not trying to prove that they're wasting money.
@lancelot69 - the health service always needs money, so you can't compare the two. We'd all like billions more invested in it, and indeed in reducing unemployment, or reducing crime. They can't all happen. You need a balance. Councillors are there to listen to the people. If they don't then vote them out and get someone else in. If you find they're all bad and all break their promises, then stand yourself or perhaps reflect that its unlikely that they're all hell bent on spending money foolishly. By the way - health and government are in separate pots. This is about government at a local level.”
by AndyJenkins84
Monday, October 29 2012, 5:15PM
“For those interested in Councillors pay - take a look at this and you'll notice that while pay increased for a few years, it was frozen and then cut in recent years.
I'm not sure what 'Support Allowance' is though.”
by weslangdon
Monday, October 29 2012, 9:31AM
“Correspondents are right we have too many councils; too many layers of management and we also need to question the efficiency of different authorities. There is a huge difference in performance twixt councils and these are not always down to Geography, infrastructure and wealth; merging councils is must in the interests of quality and consistency. It is not though something we should undertake in pursuit of Tory cuts, the drive must be with the aim of improving services and their quality.”
by lancelot69
Monday, October 29 2012, 9:30AM
“I've read articles about the millions to be spent on revamping neath town centre (whilst we are in a recession) then in the next breath our health services are in need of millions? I'm no economist but surely eyes that be can see what is to take priority?”
by intelligent1
Monday, October 29 2012, 9:03AM
“CuriosPT - just to clarify as my figres were a little out - Neath Port Talbot CT for 12-13 £1,209.36, Pembrokeshire £719.93 (£489.33 less), Carmarthenshire £951.13 (£258.13 less). Do I really need to give examples of where they waste their money - I am sure the figures speak for themselves given that pembrokeshire CC residents pay on average £489 less a year and yet there is no similar issue there. I think you perhaps need to ask NPT council where they waste their money as I for one am not happy paying £489 more a year for the same services and then being told they cannot be provided.”
by intelligent1
Monday, October 29 2012, 8:37AM
“CuriosPt - itIS about having the highest council ta in Wales - as if they are already taking more than other authorities surely we should be getting a better service yet we dont. Pembrokeshire CC council tax is about £300-£400 year less on a band D yet they have many more facilities (a leisure centre for example). Your comment about looking at other bands is completely irellevant - perhaps you do not know how council tax is calculated - but to give you an overview - all CT are calculated initially on band D then a formula applied of 9/9 = band d 8/9 = band C, 10/9 = band E etc etc, therefore which ever band you compare over any authority is reduced in teh same proportion. Therefore the % difference between any band between authorities will always be the same.”
by CuriousPT
Monday, October 29 2012, 6:57AM
“@Peter53 - agree with all you have to say (though it might be tricky to represent some wards as a single Councillor and hold down a Cabinet role).
I raised your second point earlier. I trust the SWEP will ask the question!!
With regards to protecting jobs. You're right. I'm aware of at least 10 people who add no value within the Council. Almost all in management roles too. Unfortunately managers are always protective of their own staff in such an organisation. The culture needs to change to stop this - for example performance related pay.”