Telford council changes budget after consultation

Telford & Wrekin Council conducted a public consultation on the proposals

A number of changes to Telford & Wrekin Council's budget proposals have been approved following public consultation.

A council spokesman said the council faces a £13.6m reduction in its government grant next year.

He added to address cuts the council had proposed a £20m budget package, including freezing council tax and using some one-off funding.

The council's cabinet agreed the proposals on Tuesday and they will now go before the full council on 3 March.

The original strategy proposed to reduce spending on roads, footway and kerb maintenance by around £60,000. It is now agreed that the council makes no reduction in this area.

'Early measures'

The council had also proposed scrapping pest control services but has now agreed to continue to provide them but with a charge.

Other proposals passed include charging for the delivery of new and additional grey bins and charging for Flex cards which give discounts at leisure services.

Council leader Andrew Eade said: "The early measures we have taken to restructure the council have helped us enormously to limit as far as possible the effect on front-line services.

"We want to make these changes to our proposals to reflect the comments we have received from people in the borough on the budget."