The unitary authority’s cabinet member for resources and the director of finance said the economic climate had created new cost pressures, and the council’s ability to release savings was becoming ‘increasingly challenging’.
Due to the downturn in the housing market, the authority expects to lose at least £2M, including £530,000 in planning and building control fee income and £195,000 due to falls in the sale price of recyclable materials.
Councillors were warned, however, that while the closure of the Groundwell park-and-ride site north of Swindon would save £366,000, ‘this may impact on our local transport plan (LTP) assessment, and the ability of the council to secure regional/national funding for future transport schemes’.
Swindon’s budget also includes proposals for redundancies in planning and strategic transport and other areas affected by the housing slowdown – to save £250,000.
Sixty-two of 146 responses to a council consultation expressed concern that extra traffic would be encouraged in the city centre, and parking might become difficult.
Bob Cretchley, a local Unison representative, claimed the cutswere ‘short-sighted’, and he questioned whether removing resources for sustainable development ‘will save this council money’.
A recent questionnaire of councils across the country carried out by Surveyor suggested two-thirds of councils did not believe the downturn would prompt a need to reduce the headcounts of highways and transportation departments.
