Manchester City Council cuts: Have YOUR say on how £59m gets axed from budget

People are being offered the chance to have their say on services currently under threat by Manchester City Council budget cuts.

Mental health care, services for the homeless and free swimming for the under-16s and over-60s are some of the options facing the axe due to £59million of cuts across the city this year.

But through a range of consultations planned over the next few months, the council could be persuaded to keep some services intact.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We understand that people have strong opinions on our budget options and this is their chance feed those views into the decision-making process.

“We have stressed all along that these are options, not proposals at this stage.

“Unfortunately we have no choice but to make the level of savings we need to achieve a balanced budget and these can’t be achieved without some stark choices and unpalatable cuts.”

People and organisations have until Wednesday February 18 next year to share their opinions through the main consultation.

Detailed discussions on specific options for services provided by the Children and Families directorate will commence on Monday December 1, remaining open until Monday January 26.

Meanwhile, a consultation on the option to end free swimming for the under-16s and over-60s will run until Wednesday January 7.

“The notion that we can find £59million of savings through efficiencies and back-office cuts alone is, I’m afraid, pure fiction,” Sir Leese added.

“That’s why it is essential that we hear and take into account people’s views on the options and if they have viable alternative options we will give them serious consideration. As I’ve said before, we don’t much like the options we have.”

A proposed budget will be put forward when the Council’s Executive meets on Wednesday February 18, with the final decision taken by full council on Friday March 6.

The Council has also warned that cuts may rise by a third to £91million next year, with the grand total of cuts amounting to £250million between 2011 and 2015.

It is anticipated that the Council will have to lose the equivalent of around 600 full-time staff, on top of more than 3,000 job losses in the previous four years.

To find out more and take part in the consultations, click here. 

Consultation questionnaires are also available via libraries. Paper copies of the swimming consultation will be available at leisure centres.

Image courtesy of Settme3, with thanks.