Flintshire County Council now at ‘tipping point’ and calls on local communities to take on services

Leaders of Flintshire County Council say they have now reached a ‘tipping point’ where services will be exposed to major cuts, and are urging local communities to get involved by ‘taking on’ services the Council may no longer be able to provide.

The Council is to hold a series of public engagement events throughout November and December for members of the community to get involved in shaping services for the future and give their views on the council budget debate.

Tipping Point
The Council has saved over £22m in the previous three years however, it still finds itself facing a £53m budget black hole between now and 2018 and faces a serious ‘tipping point’ as it has to find a way of making more significant savings and unprecedented changes to the way services are delivered in light of government funding reductions.

[x_pullquote cite=”Aaron Shotton Leader of Flintshire County Council” type=”right”]The Council has now reached a ‘tipping point’ where services will be exposed to major cuts without some relief from Welsh Government[/x_pullquote]

The public engagement events starting in November will give people the opportunity to hear how they can get involved in shaping services for the future and make their views count in the budget debate..

The Council has published a detailed Medium Term Financial Strategy setting out how it proposes to meet the challenges ahead but it needs the support of Welsh Government and the public to achieve it.

Council Leader Aaron Shotton said:

“We are one of the lowest funded Councils in Wales and charge around the Welsh average for Council Tax, but this low funding level combined with the effects of the continuing UK austerity agenda does expose us to particularly high levels of budget reductions.

“Flintshire has been creative in absorbing budget cuts in recent years through careful planning, being efficient, finding innovative solutions, and reducing back office costs to protect front-line services. The Council has now reached a ‘tipping point’ where services will be exposed to major cuts without some relief from Welsh Government.

” We are working hard to find solutions, and believe we can save around £14m of the £21m needed next year. If we can work with Welsh Government to find further solutions for example limiting the amount of grant we will lose, and receiving a share of the new funding for health to directly fund preventative social care services, then we believe we can make a big step forward in bridging this funding gap. Without these solutions, services we have so far been able to protect will be at risk.”

Chief Executive Colin Everett added:

“This is the moment for the public to get involved. We are already supporting and working with local people to find local solutions to provide services and are encouraged by the response so far. But much more needs to be done and local communities have a big opportunity to play their part and take on local facilities and services the County Council may no longer be able to provide. We want to work with people to explore these opportunities as partners together.”

People can register to attend one of seven public engagement events being held at venues across the County starting on 16 November.

People need to register to attend now as numbers will be limited to 200 at each venue.

They can do this by going on line at www.flintshire.gov.uk/OurMoment or by telephoning a special registration line on 01352 701701 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.