Talk to us here at Rochford Life : 0786 342 7294 or E-mail us. For other numbers see individual pages.
Make a point of visiting us weekly! Tell a friend about us.
Local Government
Rochford District Council
News Bulletin Page
Rochford District Council
News Bulletin Page
Rochford District Council’s Budget 2013-14
On 29 January 2013 Rochford District Council will meet to discuss its budget for the financial year 2013-14.
This will be the third year the Council has had to find significant savings in its budget as a result of further cuts in our Government funding.
Each year the choices get more difficult and some tough decisions will have to be made about how and where the Council allocates its funding to ensure that its budget balances with no compromising on the quality of service provision.
For 2013-14, the Council is faced with the need to find a further £500,000 savings out of its entire operating budget of £10.5m.
The Council has always prided itself on the high level of services it offers residents and - despite cuts to funding - aims not to compromise on the quality of service delivery, preferring instead to find new and innovative ways to provide more efficient services that best serve the needs of our community.
On January 29 Councillors will have to make some difficult decisions given the level of savings the authority is being asked to make for the third year in a row.
Council will discuss proposals including:
- A rise in Council Tax of 1.97 per cent, taking our band D to £205.11 from £201.15, an increase of about 8p per week. This increase is lower than inflation and follows two years of Council Tax freezes
- Reducing the amount spent on verge cutting on behalf of Essex County Council. As part of its maintenance contract with Essex County Council, Rochford undertakes verge cutting on their behalf. The overall cost of this service is £202,000 with the County Council paying a contribution of £33,000. Given the level of savings Rochford is being asked to make, it is no longer feasible to continue to subsidise the service at this level and the Council will discuss proposals to save £67,000 on the contract by reducing the number of times verges are cut in the District.
- Changes to the way the Council manages its parks, open spaces and play areas Further changes to the contract arrangements are forecast to save another £130,000 per year.
- Revising the charging framework for collecting bulky waste and an increase in the range of materials collected with a view to increasing income by £4,000 per year.
The full report is now available on Rochford District Council’s Committee Management Information System (CMIS) here:
http://cmisrdc.rochford.gov.uk/cmis5/Meetings/tabid/73/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/410/Meeting/4113/Committee/782/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx
The Leader of Rochford District Council, Councillor Terry Cutmore, said: “This is the third year that we have been asked to make substantial savings and the choices that have to be made get harder and harder.
It should be remembered that we have had to find ways of saving £500,000 this year, but this is on top of finding efficiencies of nearly a million pounds last year and £1.4m the year before.
It has required a lot of hard work and dedication by Elected Members from all parties and Council officers to find innovative ways of balancing our books without compromising the quality of services that our residents rely on and expect from us.
I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this budget and helped find ways to meet these challenges whilst ensuring that we continue to make a difference to the communities we serve.”
On 29 January 2013 Rochford District Council will meet to discuss its budget for the financial year 2013-
Each year the choices get more difficult and some tough decisions will have to be made about how and where the Council allocates its funding to ensure that its budget balances with no compromising on the quality of service provision.
For 2013-
The Council has always prided itself on the high level of services it offers residents and -
On January 29 Councillors will have to make some difficult decisions given the level of savings the authority is being asked to make for the third year in a row.
Council will discuss proposals including:
-
The full report is now available on Rochford District Council’s Committee Management Information System (CMIS) here:
http://cmisrdc.rochford.gov.uk/cmis5/Meetings/tabid/73/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/410/Meeting/4113/Committee/782/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx
The Leader of Rochford District Council, Councillor Terry Cutmore, said: “This is the third year that we have been asked to make substantial savings and the choices that have to be made get harder and harder.
It should be remembered that we have had to find ways of saving £500,000 this year, but this is on top of finding efficiencies of nearly a million pounds last year and £1.4m the year before.
It has required a lot of hard work and dedication by Elected Members from all parties and Council officers to find innovative ways of balancing our books without compromising the quality of services that our residents rely on and expect from us.
I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this budget and helped find ways to meet these challenges whilst ensuring that we continue to make a difference to the communities we serve.”