50 jobs could go as council makes cuts

Millions of pounds of budget cuts could see services and jobs go in Walsall as council chiefs seek to balance the books.

Drastic reductions could lead to the loss of 50 jobs, cuts to a range of services such as respite care for people supporting the sick and disabled and the closure of the borough's only municipal golf course.

The proposals also include suspending Walsall Illuminations for three years to save £476,000.

The proposals seek to make £13.5 million worth of efficiency savings.

Council leader Councillor John O'Hare said: "This saving is made by an internal reorganisation which brings together several separate units to one central hub and the savings arise accordingly.

"Like every other local authority, Walsall is going through very challenging times, and it is more crucial than ever that we give local people quality services and value for money.

"I believe these proposals will help provide core financial strength to the authority and allows us to make investment in areas affected by the current economic climate."

The council wants to set a £237 million revenue budget with a council tax in April of under four per cent.

The proposals have been criticised by the leader of the Labour group in the town hall, Cllr Tim Oliver.

"We know times are hard but under this Tory authority we have already seen our council tax bills rise by over 65 per cent while millions have been waste on botched privatisations, pay-outs to former employees and mismanagement of contracts and this year we are due to see a overspend £2 million which will have come from council tax," he said.

The draft proposals will now be considered by scrutiny and performance panels. The cabinet will make a final decision on February 4 before going to full council on February 23.