| |
|
If a global recession isn't a 'rainy day' to use reserves to protect services, then when is? Local authorities across the country are preparing their Annual Budgets this month. The global recession has made things very tough. So just like central Government, local councils must be extremely clear they’re spending money on priorities.
Locally, B&NES faces big choices. Over the Christmas period it emerged the Conservative-run council started preparing for large-scale job cuts, issuing over 100 staff ‘at risk of redundancy’ letters – with many more likely to follow.
But people know that B&NES is sitting on multi-million pound ‘rainy day’ reserve funds, apparently refusing to use them.
People who carefully plan their family finances know that on occasions when they’re able to tuck some money away as savings, it’s there to be used in certain circumstances. For example, when the boiler breaks down, or to fall back on when finances get really tough.
Right now North East Somerset council tax payers will be asking B&NES a simple question: If a global recession isn’t the right time to use reserve funds to protect jobs and services, exactly when is the right time?
Cynics might expect that B&NES’ attempts to reply will come from the council’s expensive P.R. operation, which costs council taxpayers over £300,000 per year. Written for the Somerset Guardian January 2010
|