Council must save £9m over next two years

Stockton Council CEO Mike Greene believes costs can be cut while improving services

A council has promised not to make "quick, hard cuts" as it looks to save £9m from its budget.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is considering a 5% council tax increase to plug the gap in its finances, most of which has been caused by increased demand for children's and adults' services.

It will carry out a council-wide review aimed at cutting costs and improving services.

The council's CEO Mike Greene said: "We’re going to get acting quickly and carrying out a series of transformation reviews."

A council report said the overspend, which has almost doubled to £6.9m this year, would need to be funded from its reserves.

Mr Greene said the council would be carrying out reviews of "big blocks of services".

These include recycling, waste, vehicles, admin, community transport, support for children, and adult social care, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Council leader Bob Cook said the aim of the reviews was to "deliver better services" but for "less money".

No 'easy decisions'

The budget deficit comes after Redcar and Cleveland Council announced it was planning to review its services to save £9.2m over the next five years.

A BBC investigation found that town halls across the country are facing a £5bn black hole.

Mr Greene described the situation as "the most difficult period [council's] had faced as a sector".

He said: “There aren’t going to be any easy decisions in this so we really want to get the message out there with residents, partners and businesses that we want to work in partnership and get around that table together."

People are being invited to take part in a survey discussing the review.