Gloucestershire council announces first wave of cuts

More details have been released about cuts to be made by Gloucestershire County Council as part of the government's £6.2bn savings plan.

The council was told last month it had to save £6.5m, but taking into account factors such as severance pay, it now needs to find £7.2m in cuts.

Spending on new speed cameras and road improvement schemes are to be shelved.

Some services for children and young people, which can be provided by the voluntary sector, are to be cut.

Councillor Paul McLain said: "We spend £70m each year on services for children, supporting them from birth until they are 19.

'Financial hangover'

"We need to find £3.2m of savings out of that budget and we have to prioritise child protection, so we will fulfil our commitment to invest in 30 new social workers.

"However, this means freezing spending in other areas.

"We will no longer be investing in Olympic sports activities and we will reduce training budgets for staff.

"We will also be talking to the voluntary sector about how we can deliver services more efficiently as we see grants reduce even further."

He said the council was experiencing "an almighty financial hangover".

"The scale of that hangover is going to be more than aspirins," he said.

"In two or three months time, we're looking at anything between 25 and 30% reductions in everything we do."

The cuts will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on 13 July at Shire Hall.