Inflation becomes ‘biggest threat’ to cash-crisis council

North Yorkshire County Council is faced with making £69m in savings over the next four years as it battles to combat a dramatic reduction in funding from the Government.

The council’s leader, Councillor John Weighell, admitted yesterday that while the authority has managed to balance its books for this financial year, it is facing massive challenges in the future.

Coun Weighell said: “We are dealing with the financial pressures successfully at the moment, but that is not to say that there are not any risks in the longer term.

“We have managed to sort this financial year and work is progressing well with next year, but there is still an awful lot to do for years three and four.

“Rising costs and inflation are the biggest risks we face at the authority. If you are having to make five per cent cuts while faced with five per cent inflation, it is going to make the job extremely difficult.”

The Yorkshire Post revealed yesterday that the county council had set out its vision for the next three years in a period that Coun Weighell admitted would be the most critical in the authority’s history.

The revised council plan up until 2014 has identified four key areas, including protecting and supporting vulnerable people and supporting economic growth and employment.

Improving access across the vast rural areas of North Yorkshire and promoting environmental sustainability have also been deemed major priorities.

However, senior officers at County Hall in Northallerton have admitted that hundreds of posts will be lost to cope with the financial cutbacks.

There are 330 fewer posts at the council compared to last year – which equates to a reduction of 265 full-time roles.

Both Coun Weighell and the county council’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, have given reassurances that the authority will provide the best possible services amid the cutbacks.

They admitted the financial constraints will have an impact, although Coun Weighell maintained efforts to cut bureaucracy have already helped ease the pressures.