Home   Kent   News   Article

Kent County Council outlines jobs and service cuts

Kent County Council logo
Kent County Council logo

Kent County Council has revealed where its spending axe will fall today - with cuts of £95million hitting jobs and services hard.

County Hall’s ruling Conservative administration detailed its proposed budget for 2011-12 at a press conference in Gravesend.

Council bosses warned the authority will have to make efficiency savings of £38m from having fewer staff.

It will also make policy changes to save £36m, use one-off funds including reserves of £15m and increase its income by £6m by boosting social care charges.

KCC is also set to hike up the admin cost of the Freedom Pass to £100.

But council tax will be frozen - giving some post-Christmas cheer to Kent's taxpayers.

Speaking at the budget announcement, KCC leader Paul Carter said: “We have been enormously creative and resourceful in finding the solution to this problem, and we are determined to protect those services that make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

“We have spent the last year preparing for this financial challenge.

"Bold Steps for Kent sets out our ambition to 2014/15, has a tight focus and responds to the coalition government’s change agenda on health and education.

"Our ambitions are to grow the Kent economy, to tackle disadvantage and to put the citizen in control

“We are putting in place a new, leaner structure at KCC to deliver this vision.

"It entails transforming how we deliver our services so that we can continue to provide high quality services to the people of Kent with less funding.”

John Simmonds, KCC's cabinet member for finance said: “What we have done this year is to look at all our services, how they perform and how they are regarded.

"We have sought to protect the vulnerable, both old and young. I want to emphasise the services we have maintained, such as the current eligibility for adult social services, entitlement to the freedom pass, our community wardens, investment in highway maintenance and increased funding for children’s social services.

“This budget is not only about reductions in expenditure, it is about reorganisation in such a way that we can continue to run efficiently, provide key services and serve the people of Kent."

Keep up-to-date with today’s details by following our political editor Paul Francis on Twitter @PaulOnPolitics

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More