Trafford News
Trafford Council proposes to cut spending by £16m
3:18pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012
TRAFFORD councillors are set to vote tonight on a budget that will see £16 million in spending cuts.
The plans will see 103 jobs go and measures include volunteers largely running Hale and Old Trafford libraries.
A number of new measures have been introduced as part of the re-drafted proposals, which include £300,000 to promote the Olympics in the borough.
Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium will host nine football matches and the borough’s economy is expected to benefit to the tune of £24m.
An extra £750,000 will be ploughed into revitalising the borough’s town centres, with businesses receiving grants to part fund facelifts to their premises.
Most of the staffing cuts will affect management and back office staff and council leader Councillor Matt Colledge said: “We will make a large step towards these savings but in a way that protects our front line services. Not for us are closures to libraries, community centres and childrens centres. Careful budgeting and efficient use of money will keep these and many more front line services open.”
The Conservative budget has been slammed as a disaster by Councillor David Acton, leader of Trafford’s Labour group.
“Like last year, once again, it is the most vulnerable who will bear the brunt of the cuts, where Social Service users will face up to £7 million of further cuts. This will mean reduced services and massive increases in charges.
Labour propose an alternative budget which will utilise savings of £2 Million, we will do this by reducing the Council's Transformation Team, Communication Team and ''My Trafford Magazine'', and Policy & Partnership Team - The savings in these areas will allow us to save the Mobile Library and Librarian Jobs, Support Social Services, and not to increase charges for older peoples services.”