No stone unturned in savings hunt - council leader

For the next financial year, City of Wolverhampton Council is predicting a deficit of £27.1m

City of Wolverhampton Council must leave "no stone unturned" looking for savings to fill a financial black hole, its leader says.

The authority has a budget of £332m for the current financial year, balancing the books by taking £6m from reserves.

For the next financial year, from April 2025, the council is predicting a deficit of £27.1m - with the gap between what it makes and what it spends rising to £32.6m the year after.

The authority's Labour leader, Stephen Simkins, stressed the need for cuts was not because of financial mismanagement.

The council has already identified ways to find £7m in the current financial year.

Among savings already identified is cutting £10,000 set aside for food provided to councillors who had not eaten during the day before attending meetings.

Mr Simkins told a cabinet meeting: "It is more important to feed the children of this city than elected members."

He said the need for cuts was linked to increased service demand, especially in adult social care, children’s services and temporary accommodation for the homeless.

Leader Stephen Simkins said the council had had "a good bill of health from external auditors"

Councillors heard more than half the authority’s spending went on adults and children’s services as well as emptying bins.

Mr Simkins said it was "vitally important that we do stress this authority will need to make savings proposals of around £32m".

He stated: "It is really important that we streamline the authority so we can deliver for those people who are in the greatest need.

"We will leave no stone unturned to make savings."

Mr Simkins also said the council had had "a good bill of health from external auditors year on year".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.