Council closing in on £51.4m spending cuts target
Shropshire Council has set itself a target of cutting £51.4m from its budget
At a glance
Shropshire Council saved £38m by the end of September
A report said a further £8.2m could be saved by April
It is aiming to cut its budget by £51.4m by the end of the financial year
- Published
Further work needs to be done for Shropshire Council to meet its £51.4m savings target, but it believes it is on course to achieve most of it.
A report to councillors said £38m had been saved by the end of September and another £8.2m could be saved by the end of the financial year.
The report also warned it was facing growing demand for social care spending.
James Walton, director of resources, said adjustments would be made and residents would reap the rewards for many years to come.
Mr Walton also said the council would identify short-term funding to meet a £20.5m extra demand in social care costs while long-term plans to reduce demand are implemented.
The council is therefore working on the assumption that it will be left with a £3.6m overspend by next April, which will need to be funded by reserves.
Gwilym Butler, cabinet member for resources, said: “The spending reductions identified so far are greater than we have ever achieved before."
The report will be discussed by the authority’s transformation and improvement scrutiny committee on 15 November, and by cabinet after that.