16 October 2012

Lewisham unveils £28m cuts


James Evison

More than £28m in cuts has been proposed by Lewisham LBC across the next three years, the local authority has announced.

The plans have been provided to the select committee for scrutiny ahead of a final decision in 2013.

If approved, the cuts would be front-loaded to include a £14m reduction in 2013-14, a similar amount the following year, and a sum just under one million in 2015.

Specific services to be withdrawn include discretionary freedom passes for disabled persons in the borough and reductions in street cleansing regimes. Community services and children services are the biggest losers, and would both see cuts approaching £10m each across three years.

Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, told a local paper: ‘These cuts are needed because the government has decided to single out local government to carry a huge part of the burden of reducing the deficit."

‘We're at a stage where none of these things are pleasant or what we'd choose to do.’

Sir Steve also claimed that with a review of local authority funding yet to come, the future was still uncertain.

‘It could get a whole lot worse. It could also get a whole lot better, but I'm not putting money on that.’ He added.



Your comments

Well done David for reminding us that the is an income side to public finances. Those calling for more cuts ignore those facts that even the IMF is coming to terms with. Cuts in public expenditure always have a negative effect on the economy and in some cases make the debt position worse not better. The longer austerity continues the worse the long term competitiveness of the economy becomes.

Patrick Newman, ex local government, Stevenage, Added: Monday, 22 October 2012 10:42 AM

The Tory's are truly sadistic as are those who vote for them. The cuts have nothing to do with austerity and everything to do with ideology. Let Starbucks pay their tax and all the other named and shamed listed companies, then we might not have to slice services into pieces of cake for the private sector. Tory's pay your taxes.

David Hambly, Added: Wednesday, 17 October 2012 03:56 PM

When the Government is spending ?4 for every ?3 raised in revenue, placing a massive and increasing debt burden on future generations, it would be completely irresponsible for cuts *not* to be made. This is Prudence, not Scrooge. The Government, private citizens, businesses and local authorities must live within their means. If that means a reduced level of service, so be it. "Need" is a relative concept and must always be assessed in relation to resources: less money, so fewer needs can be met.

Antony Atkins, Added: Tuesday, 16 October 2012 06:30 PM

At least Lewisham have rejected the euphemism of savings - they are indeed cuts. One has to question the necessity of children services being loaded with such large cuts and abolishing freedom passes for the disabled seem sadistically petty.

Patrick Newman, ex local government, Stevenage, Added: Tuesday, 16 October 2012 03:58 PM

It is staggering. Without real considerations for real needs. Without any reference to the true nature by which services have been developed it seems Central Government are making the age old mistakes all over again. If they spent time ensuring that - instead of being ? driven, the true customer needs were being met; that unscrupulous deals and outsources to "arms length" companies were examined...it'll be a frenzied slice and dice without any worthwhile result. Sad, but alas another ? waste!

John Rudkin, Added: Tuesday, 16 October 2012 03:48 PM

Scrooge Pickles: "Lovely, more money saved..."

Local Government, Added: Tuesday, 16 October 2012 03:40 PM



 Back     Top of page