Warrington Council services could be 'given up' in £35m cuts By Phil McCann

Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News Published duration 12 September 2015

image copyright Google image caption Services under threat include public toilets, parks and grants to voluntary organisations

A Cheshire council fears £35m of projected cuts may cause it to scrap some of the services it is not legally obliged to provide.

A Warrington Council report said the shortfall meant containing expenditure was "proving to be very difficult".

Services under threat include parks, grants to voluntary organisations and public toilet provision.

Councillor Russ Bowden admitted there were non-statutory services "we're going to have to give up on".

The authority has cut a third of its budget since 2010.

'Balance the books'

Warrington Borough Council is committed to saving £15.5m this financial year, on top of £77m of savings over the last four years.

Councillor Bowden, Labour, said: "It's incredibly difficult. We've done all the easy stuff - the efficiency savings to protect the front line.

"We just see an increasing demand over some of the core things we do. That demand isn't being properly funded."

The authority has not yet outlined how it will bridge the funding gap.

A report said: "A phased approach has begun to review all services to determine how their outcomes contribute to the Council's strategic priorities.

Councillor Paul Kennedy, Conservative, said: "There are going to have to be some reductions in services and you have to meet your statutory obligations first.

"The government is trying to work the deficit down and balance the books."

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