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The Champion • Wednesday 30 January 2013Further cuts to‘inflict more pain’in Sefton, warnscouncil leaderReport by Natasha YoungFURTHER cuts are set to “inflictsignificantly more pain” on Sefton’scommunities, as the council revealedmore options to balance its budgetthis week.Yet another list of potential savingswill be discussed by the borough’scabinet members tomorrow(Thursday, January 31), as the localauthority attempts to tackle itsmulti–million pound deficit, whichhas increased by a further £7millionsince the Government Settlement forLocal Authorities was announced inDecember.The council was already strugglingtowards finding savings of £43m overthe next two years on top of the £64mit has already slashed, and describedthe new figure as a “massive blow”.As it now continues working towardsa two year budget plan and continuesits bid to “reshape the council to meetthe needs and priorities of the futurein such a financially restrictedenvironment,” the cabinet willconsider bringing in changes whichwill hit council staff as well as morecuts to services in the borough.Proposals to save £3m, rather than apreviously suggested £6m, by alteringstaff terms and conditions are beingrecommended for progression,subject to further consultation withtrade unions.If given the go ahead they will seeemployees’ pay frozen over the nexttwo years, apart from in schoolswhose governing body controls suchmatters, saving a projected £1.69m in2013/14 and £1.5m in £2014/15.Meanwhile the four–day shutdownof many of the council’s buildings andservices over the Christmas period isalso proposed to continue.New savings options to be discussedby the cabinet include “redefining”the information, advice and guidance‘It is hard to believe how this level ofcuts in Sefton could be seen as fair’Cllr Peter Dowdprovided to young people through theConnexions service; reducing thecouncil’s subsidy to Formby Pool andin return varying the Formby PoolTrust and Formby Land Trust’scontract to allow them to chargehigher rates to users and extend theirlease of operation; and no longersupplying, installing and maintaining11 Christmas trees across the boroughor financially supporting Chrismascelebrations.A review of support packages forchildren with additional needs is alsoproposed, along with integratingdrugs and alcohol services in theborough; charging the full council taxrate for properties empty for morethan a month, rather than the current50%; reducing the number of areacommittees across the borough fromseven to three; reducing thegovernance structure of the councilalong with the number of meetingswhich are held; running the alreadytrimmed back Local History Servicethrough the voluntary sector ratherthan council; and also exploring anMin–house management option andinviting tenders to take on theSouthport Theatre complex in a bid tosave £100,000.Previously discussed optionsincluding the recharging ofmaintenance and utility costs forjunior sports teams and also strippingback mayoral services to the statutoryminimum are recommended to not beprogressed at this point, while cabinetmembers are also expected to confirma strategic review of parking servicesand hold off on controversial on andoff–street parking charge increasesuntil 2014/15.Sefton Council leader, CouncillorPeter Dowd, said: “It is hard to believehow this level of cuts in Sefton couldbe seen as fair. Some of the savings wehave already had to make have had adevastating effect on ourcommunities, and they are likely to behit hard again.“Making cuts of £43 million for thenext two years was bad enough butnow we are faced having to makedecisions which will inflictsignificantly more pain for ourcommunities.“These further cuts, now totalling£50 million, are as a direct result ofthe government reducing its fundingto Sefton Council.“The council is currently consultingon a range of options and this willcontinue. But we have also had tolook, once again, at our budgetoptions and cut deeper into services sothat we can balance our budget –which we are legally required to do.”No final decisions will be made untila meeting of the full council at the endof February where the budget will beset.local.news@champnews.comMORE than 50 jobs areexpected to be lost at an Aintreefactory after a glassmanufacturing specialistannounced it will be closing itssite.Pilkington, a St Helens–basedfirm, said it is expecting to closeits roof glazing site at theAintree Racecourse businesspark later this spring after areview of its operations, withthe loss of 51 jobs.The Nippon Sheet Glass group,who own the company andsites, said in a statement thisweek: “Following a review ofthe IGU Processing businesswithin the UK, the NSG Grouphas announced its intention toclose the PilkingtonVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 3Aintree glass factoryset to shut by springmeaning 51 jobs lostBasingstoke IGU and PilkingtonAintree sites.“Where possible, remainingproduction will be transferredto alternative sites within theUK. We anticipatemanufacturing to cease duringFebruary and closures to becompleted by spring 2013.Discussions have commencedtoday with all employees andrepresentatives at both sites tolook at all possible steps tomitigate the effect of theseredundancies. Every effort willbe made to look foremployment opportunitieselsewhere.”Pilkington also operates sitesin nearby Lathom and in StHelens.We Buy Houses!Quick Decision to Quick Completion• Any Property, Any Area, Any Condition• Probate And InheritedProperty Specialists• Repossessions Stopped At Any Stage• Legal Fees Paid. 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