It's budget time!

CBC officers are burning the midnight oil at present trying to balance the budget for next year. Not an easy task, as predicted we are going to see substantial additional cuts to our funding from central government. The final figure is being assessed as I write but frankly it is not good news. Thank goodness we decided the partnership route some two or more years ago otherwise we would now be in serious deficit. My prediction is that we will be maintaining essential services at the current standards providing we stick to our business plan of maximising income from our assets and minimising cost. We will continue to talk to our immediate neighbours about potential savings from shared services as well as proceeding with our internal rationalisation. The system of Universal credit due to be implemented in April is also giving me some concern, whilst I know that this coalition administration has to cut our National Welfare budget I have great misgivings about the effect on those in dire straights and whilst the elderly and infirm are insulated from the changes others on benefits may not be. The last thing I want to see is the increase in homeless and will be talking to Councillors about this very problem on Saturday week.