Tough choices lie ahead as council set for £65m cuts

Next week members of the authority's cabinet committee will meet to discuss the financial position ahead in the run-up to the Government's spending review on October 20.

Coun Peter Box, the leader of Wakefield Council, yesterday warned that as well as looking at services, fees and charges for services are also under review.

This year the Government has already reduced its budget by 10.6m forcing it to bring in cuts that have led to job losses, but the spending review will further reduce its budget. The authority estimates it will have to save 65m over four years, but the full impact is not yet known.

Yesterday Coun Box said: "The total of funding cuts to date in this district amount to 10.6m. Revenue cuts have affected things like free swimming, road safety, lifelong learning and young people's services, while capital spending cuts have affected highways, schools and IT and more."

On top of these cuts, the Government has announced plans to scrap its Building Schools for the Future programme, which would have seen 70m invested in rebuilding or updating schools in the district.

A report to the cabinet says as a result of cuts to highways budgets this year several roads projects have been put on hold and 40 jobs will be lost.

The loss of a housing and planning grant this year is expected to lead to a further six job losses and support for voluntary groups has also been reduced.

Coun Box said: "We continue to estimate that cuts in Government funding over the next four years will mean that we will have to reduce our budget by around 65m by 2014-15.

"Against this background, we face more tough decisions.

"As well as reviewing the services we provide, we are reviewing fees and charges for council services.

"We can leave no options unexplored in this extremely challenging financial climate."

The authority's cabinet will meet at Wakefield Town Hall at 10.30am on October 5.