Councillors at Derbyshire County Council have signed off on a series of cost control measures to address a £46m budget gap.
The cost-cutting measures include a recruitment freeze, reducing the use of agency staff, and a reduction of overtime and additional hours worked by employees.
Council leader Cllr Barry Lewis emphasised that the local authority was not facing bankruptcy but warned that the council was in a ‘difficult situation’.
Other measures agreed to reduce the budget gap include a ban on non-essential conferences, travel or training, and an end to repairs on properties unless they relate to health and safety.
Any projects that are still in the planning stage will be postponed and there will be a delay on any contracts not yet signed.
‘We have always been a well-managed, efficient and financially stable council which has balanced our books, maintained a robust level of reserves and been able to support vital, high quality, value-for-money services for our residents across Derbyshire,’ said Cllr Lewis.
‘However, the reality is that the financial pressures we are facing, along with other councils and households, are now greater than ever experienced before, with most of these pressures being simply outside our control.’
If this article was of interest, then check out our feature, 'Preventing future Section 114 notices'.
