Council to push on with £3m cuts bid

Selby District Council is drawing up wide-ranging plans to make the multi-million pound cutbacks as it attempts to counter a fall in its Government funding of up to 25 per cent.

The authority has already made savings of about 2m since April 1, 2008, but it is now faced with enforcing a further round of cuts after Chancellor George Osborne confirmed that local authority grants are due to be slashed by a quarter.

Council leader Mark Crane said: "Our aim is to deliver the savings we need in a measured way, to ensure that we can continue to deliver the services our residents need most. I believe these savings can be achieved by being innovative and open to new ideas."

A review of the council's services is under way to establish where any further cuts can be enforced, although it is hoped that the savings can be made with minimal job losses to the authority's 307 full-time and part-time staff.

Officers are looking to join forces with other authorities covering Harrogate and Craven to create partnerships to deliver services. Talks are also under way for a new procurement partnership to cover Selby, Ryedale and Scarborough to drive down the cost of goods and services which are bought in.

Recent new deals have been signed with the private sector to deliver street cleaning and leisure services, saving more than 1m each year.

The council's property portfolio is being analysed ahead of a move to a new civic centre, which will also include a community hospital for Selby.

The headquarters will incorporate a host of energy-saving technologies to help reduce bills.