Knowsley outlines reduced budget

Knowsley Council's Cabinet has put forward plans to achieve £23.6m of savings in 2011/12.

The council is facing a 20% reduction in government funding but said there will be no compulsory redundancies.

The majority of savings will be made in the following areas:

• £4.3m from senior management posts
• Approximately 430 permanent staff posts lost through voluntary severance, managed redeployment and early retirement
• Reduced and redesigned back office and support services

Projects that remain on track include:

• Town centre regeneration plans for Kirkby and Stockbridge village
• Plans to revitalise Prescot town centre
• The replacement of street lighting across the Borough would go ahead
• The planned investment into leisure facilities across the borough will be delivered, with new facilities in Stockbridge Village, £1.4m investment in Prescot and a leisure and culture park on Longview Drive, Huyton
• Key street scene service levels would be maintained for streets, highways, town centres and parks

Cllr Ron Round, leader of Knowsley Council, said: "The harsh cuts imposed on us by the Government mean that this is undoubtedly the most difficult budget we have ever had to set.

"We have had to take some incredibly tough decisions to meet our huge budget shortfall, but we have remained firm in our belief that we must not cut frontline services.

"I am particularly pleased that we have been able to manage the reduction in our staff numbers through voluntary means. Around three-quarters of our employees are Knowsley residents, which means that any staffing reductions will have a major impact on our communities, so I am grateful to our staff and trade union colleagues for their support and co-operation."

The proposals will be considered by the council at a meeting on 2 March 2011.