Council saves money but still finds cash for voluntary sector

A 15 per cent cut in its central government grant, rising inflation and more demand for temporary housing meant Mid Sussex District Council had to find £900,000 in savings.

But, in its annual Outturn report, the authority says it had not only generated the £900,000 needed to balance the budget, but had managed to save a further £618,000 as well. Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Jonathan Ash-Edwards said new efficient working practices was one of the main reasons it was able to make significant savings. He said: “Mid Sussex District Council has been able to deliver more for less again this year by planning ahead, keeping our costs to a minimum and improving the efficiency of our services. Our funding may have been reduced, but we anticipated the change and did a great deal of preparation work to manage the shortfall.

“By finding new ways of working, we’ve made taxpayers’ money go further, avoided the cuts in services many other councils have made and have been able to freeze Council Tax for three years. Every year we are asked to do our job with a reduced budget, so we have plenty of experience in finding new ways to save and making sure that our residents get the best value for money.

“I’m delighted that, not only have we been able to protect our existing services, our sound financial management has enabled us to invest in community facilities throughout the year.”

Cllr Ash-Edwards said it had recently completed a £200,000 project to improve and expand five of its community pavilions. Running costs would also be reduced. MSDC said it was also maintaining support for the most vulnerable by maintaining the high levels of grant funding available to the voluntary sector. During 2012/13, it allocated more than £253,000 in partnership and other grant funding, supporting the likes of Central Sussex Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Age UK West Sussex, East Grinstead Age Concern and Action for Rural Sussex.

Cllr Christopher Snowling, Cabinet Member for Health and Community, said local authorities across the county were being asked to make huge financial savings and many were looking at making cuts to voluntary sector funding, He said: “In Mid Sussex we like to do things differently and we are continuing to support our partners in the voluntary sector because we understand just how important their work is to the local community.

“In times of recession the demand for voluntary sector services increases and it is more important than ever that we fund them so that they can continue to protect those most vulnerable in society.”

The MSDC Outturn financial report 2012/13 can be found online at www.midsussex.gov.uk/agendas