Peterborough faces budget cuts but spends £42m on schools

Primary and secondary school places are to increase in Peterborough at a cost of £42m, new budget proposals reveal.

But the city council has been forced to make cuts in the 2013/14 financial year because of reduced government funding and a growing population.

Money will go to older residents with complex needs and children in care but not all budget cuts are through yet.

The cabinet has developed a plan for the next nine years to be discussed on 4 February.

Investing in city

Proposals will then go out to formal consultation with a deadline for comments of Tuesday 5 March 2013.

The council has also frozen council tax at the current level and aims to raise new income from solar energy and wind farm developments.

David Seaton, cabinet member for resources, said: "We are facing a cut in our funding from government by almost a third.

"The number of people over 85 living in Peterborough will increase by a half in the next decade.

"The city also has the sixth highest birth rate in England, and our children in care having increasingly complex needs means we are faced with some very difficult decisions over the next few years."

He added: "We believe our budget proposals provide a balance between making savings and efficiencies while also continuing to invest in the city to ensure we continue to attract new businesses and jobs."