Holding down the burden on council tax payers in the face of the massive national economic crisis will be a top priority for Chichester District Council.
This was the message from a meeting of the authority's executive board, when members heard that income from areas including government grants, public sector partners and planning and building control fees was being severely squeezed.
New cash-effi
ciency savings of £500,000 a year were needed just to offset reduced grants.
The board was told services were under review, and Cllr John Cherry, portfolio holder for resources, said there were no sacred cows.
"There's nothing that is not subject to review," he declared.
Cllr Cherry said opportunities for generating more income were also being examined, with possibilities including car parking, green waste, farmers' markets, the use of parks and pitches, and pest control.
"Because of the low government grant, we cannot fund any new services or any improved services unless we find the money from efficiencies," he added.
"We have a finite pool of money. It is exactly the same as a household budget, finding out how you can stretch it further."
They were looking for new revenue, tightening their belt, looking at how they could save money, and using reserves, to ensure that services were delivered without over-burdening council tax payers.
"We have to keep the burden on tax payers down – they are suffering from different burdens as well," said Cllr Cherry.
"The message is that there is no new money available, only choices about how to spend the money we have, which will mean tough decisions."
But Chichester District Council was much better placed than most other councils, with good reserves, he asserted.
Cllr Cherry said the national impact was severe, and members had to face the fact they would not get any money out of the government for a long time.
"We have to make sure we live within our means, because if we don't it will be a very rocky road ahead," he warned.
Chief executive John Marsland said: "We are confident that tax and spending levels will be reasonable."
He added: "We will make it work."
Members approved a five-year financial strategy for the district council.
"This is about how we adapt ourselves to a very difficult world, in which ever more difficulties are put in our way by the government," said Cllr Cherry.
The country's economy was a 'ghastly, blood-drenched shambles'.
What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.
Click here to go back to Chichester news
Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news
Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news
To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.
MAP
The full article contains 482 words and appears in OS-Chichester Observer newspaper.
