Playgrounds, allotments and public toilets face the axe as Barrow council looks to save £2.37m

Barrow Borough Council has announced that it will face a funding deficit of £2.37m by 2020 unless it makes vital changes to services.

The announcement comes after further reductions in government grants imposed on local councils by central government.

Despite the colossal drop, the council is committed to preserving as many services and jobs as possible.

Phil Huck, executive director of Barrow Borough Council, said: "The council is committed as far as we can to continue the services we do and to protect jobs.

"We need to save £2.37m so we're looking at ways in which we can change some services."

The council has earmarked a number of services that are likely to be affected by the cuts, including playgrounds, kennels and street cleaning services.

It aims to save a total of £30,000 over the coming years by earmarking a small number of the borough's 34 playgrounds that are under-used or in disrepair for closure.

It is also looking to outsource its kennel service that looks after stray dogs and is in discussion with relevant charities.

A further £30,000 will also be saved by making changes to the service it provides to allotments.

The council has more than 800 allotments across a number of sites and currently subsidises them to the tune of £30,000. It is proposing a reduction in grounds maintenance and repairs, together with an increase in rents.

The biggest saving is expected to be made by reviewing the contract renewals of waste and street cleansing; revenues, benefits and customer services; and internal audit.

More than £1m will be saved by this and Mr Huck says residents can do their bit to help.

He said: "There's a lot of waste we have to collect unnecessarily and every time we do that we incur those costs. It's about being sensible and not leaving black bin bags out on the streets."

Residents will be able to have their say on the changes and make suggestions about how the council can make up the shortfall by taking part in a consultation on the council website, which starts tomorrow.

Barrow Borough Council has often borne the brunt of government cuts but councillors are determined to keep the impact to a minimum.

Councillor David Pidduck, leader of the council, said: "Once again, we are faced with the need to make huge savings in addition to those we have already made. This strategy is designed to achieve the savings we require, but at the same time protect jobs and services we provide to people of the borough."

The full council will consider the budget strategy, including the outcome of the public consultation, September 6.

What is the council proposing?

THE council proposes to make up the £2.37m by making the following savings:

£1.02m from major contract renewals: This is likely to see changes to waste and street cleansing; revenues, benefits and customer services; and

internal audit.

£470,000 by outsourcing services for The Forum and Park Leisure Centre.

£260,000 from re-profiling the council’s debt repayment schedule.

£240,000 by resetting burial and cremation charges.

£150,000 by using ring fenced rental income to support regeneration work across the Borough.

£50,000 from Dock Museum: The Council will recover a proportion of NNDR and building service costs from its tenant BAE Systems and will make other building and service efficiencies across the strategy period.

£50,000 by increasing commercial rate and reduced business rates.

£30,000 by oursourcing kennel service.

£30,000 by closing a small number of playgrounds

£30,000 by reducing grounds maintenance on allotment sites and increasing rent.

£30,000 by making service changes at Barrow Park.

£10,000 by closing toilets at Roanhead and the seasonal operation of Roa Island toilets.

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