BUDGET CUTS: you've got off lightly, Tory tells Rotherham Council

ROTHERHAM has not been faced with many financial cuts, a councillor claimed this week.

Borough councillors have rubber-stamped the budget for 2012/13, when there will be £20.4 million less to spend.

But Tory Cllr Martyn Parker told the ruling Labour group at Wednesday’s meeting: “You haven’t really had that many cuts.

“You have actually been instructed to stop wasting money and you’re being given millions of pounds to keep council tax down.”

The authority will net £2.6 million for freezing council tax after accepting the coalition Government’s offer.

Council leader Roger Stone said the budget of £213 million was realistic and fair in the face of unprecedented pressure from central Government.

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He added: “In three-and-a-half years we will have had to find funding of nearly £70 million and it can’t be find simply in back office staff.

“The Government’s plan for the private sector to pick up the job losses of the public sector has no chance.”

“The last two years have been the most challenging I have encountered in more than 20 years in public service.

“There’s been a greater hit in Rotherham than the national and regional average for cuts.”

Tory group leader Cllr John Gilding said: “The economy is being turned around, slowly but surely. Let’s not forget why we are in this position.

“Under a Labour government our debt was so big they were paying £120 million a day just paying the interest.”

The council has approved a capital spend of £160 million over the next three years.

The figure includes £33 million on improving schools, £34 million on roads and £82 on housing.

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