'Austerity is nowhere near over' Luton council meeting hears

Funding pressures on adult social care, homelessness, children’s social care and special educational needs remain, a meeting of the borough council’s executive committee was told.

The local authority received a cash boost from the government ahead of the General Election in December to help balance its books during the current financial year.

But Labour High Town councillor Andy Malcolm said the money did not compensate for ten years of austerity.

“We have got £7.5m savings in last year’s budget that still need to be delivered,” he explained.

“That is probably the most important thing to keep an eye on over the current financial year.

“There is still some contingency in the budget against those, but we are planning to make those savings.

“That’s probably the most important thing in this whole budget in terms of remaining in a healthy state for our finances,” he said.

“In setting a balanced budget for this year, that was basically fine in the end because central government came up with lots of money in the run-up to the election.

“However, we also have £3m savings which we were planning because we thought we would have to make them.

“In the end the settlement was relatively generous, but we know there are £20m savings required in the next few years.

“So we’re going to include the £3m in this year’s budget.”

A small survey of residents conducted at The Mall identified crime and anti-social behaviour, care for the vulnerable and street cleansing as the top three areas for the council to prioritise its spending, the executive heard.

Promoting healthy lifestyles, building more homes, and developing arts and culture, sports and entertainment provision as the less important areas.

Councillor Malcolm, executive member for finance, added: “I suppose these are the more strategic things that we have to have an eye to.

“That’s something to think about going forward into a wider consultation.”

Labour Farley councillor Mahmood Hussain said: “We are still hugely short on adult social care, children’s social care, special needs budget.

“There are major funding gaps. Would the £20m we are asked to save have an impact on the current services?” he asked.

“We have an increase in terms of the special needs in Luton as well, and there is no extra funding coming for that either.”

Councillor Malcolm replied: “When you look back ten years, you’ve had all the inflationary increases, the salary increases and the pressure increases, such as the changing demographics around special educational needs and social care.

“Austerity is nowhere near gone given the state of children’s social care, adult social care, homelessness and special educational needs across the country. It’s not just Luton. It’s everywhere.”

The executive approved a package of financial recommendations to be put before a budget full council meeting on Wednesday, February 19.