Labour Council set to cut vital front-line services in budget crisis

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 11th Oct 2007

Labours financial mismanagement has brought about cuts to council services

Sheffield City Council faces huge gaps in its budget in the coming years due to poor financial management and a lack of support from the Government. The Labour controlled Council is set to embark on a programme of cuts to front-line services. The Cabinet agreed to effectively reduce spending in many vital Council departments today. The financial crisis could lead to an unwelcome hike of the hated council tax.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: -

"The report agreed today clearly demonstrates that Gordon Brown's money has run out and Sheffield City Council faces a number of tough financial years ahead. The waste and bureaucracy built up over the last few years under Labour is coming home to roost as we and others predicted."

"Labours proposed cuts for next year will have a real impact on front-line services, this demonstrates poor financial management given the millions still being wasted on failing policies and projects and too many senior Town Hall managers."

"However, over the next few years the picture is even worse as even larger budget gaps of up to £25m are projected."

"Its clear that the Labour Group should have listened to us when we warned them that relatively generous Government grants wouldn't last forever. In line with our budget proposals, savings should have been made years ago and we should have been more prudent. But instead of dealing with the expensive bureaucratic mess they have built up over the years, Labour seem intent on cutting front-line services. Sheffield's council taxpayers deserve better."