Telford council's £20m budget cuts approved

Telford & Wrekin Council's controversial budget aimed at saving more than £20 million over the next year has been approved despite calls for a rethink by union bosses.

The budget will mean no rise in council tax for the first time in 12 years but will see services cut.

Tensions were high at last night's meeting which saw authority chairman, Councillor Ian Fletcher, throw more than 20 protesters out after warnings for heckling.

Councillor Sean Kelly, who presented the budget, said the council was forced to make savings after the Government reduced its funding for next year by £13.6 million, on top of a £3 million reduction earlier in the financial year. The funds black hole means up to 530 council jobs are at risk.

Telford Unison yesterday made a last minute appeal for councillors to re-think the cuts proposed and back an alternative union budget.

But the council backed its own budget last night with council leader Andrew Eade saying: "Our priority has been to focus our resources on the services that the community tell us are most important."

The council's budget will mean changes to some services, which were previously free and some street lights in the borough will now be switched off between midnight and 5am.

The council is also halving its senior management to make a saving of £1.75 million a year.

The council has said it will also using a range of one-off payments to limit the impact on front line services and staff.

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