Trafford Conservatives announce draft budget that delivers another £6.7m of efficiencies, protection of front line services and more support to the most vulnerable.

Trafford Conservatives have today released details of their draft budget for 2012/13. Additional efficiencies will be delivered through new ways of service provision, lower management and back office costs and increased use of technology to help protect front line services to residents. Council tax will be frozen for the second year running.
Key proposals include:

•    72% of savings will come from increased efficiency, increased trading and grant income and previous cost saving initiatives. Conservatives will save a further £481k from Human resource and training functions, £518k in lower finance department costs and £420k in lower IT costs and increased income. Only 28% (£4.5m) of savings will have an impact on front line service provision.
•    The majority of staff reductions (58%) will come from Management and back office posts.
•    Trafford will continue to lead the way in Greater Manchester in collaboration with other local authorities and public sector agencies. Amongst other initiatives, local Conservatives are
o    (i) slashing costs and increasing trading income through collaboration in HR and payroll services with Wigan and Stockport Councils;
o    (ii) providing a joint CCTV service with the Police, increasing income from partners; and
o    (ii) driving savings from procurement across all 10 Greater Manchester Councils, saving over £25m over 3 years.
•    Conservatives will continue to invest in technology to deliver improved services more efficiently. Proposals include the increased use of telecare to provide more independence to older people, ebooks in our libraries, mobile devices for enforcement officers and video links to our contact centre.
•    In response to resident feedback, Trafford will increase the positive contribution that volunteers can make in our communities. In particular, Conservatives will increase volunteering to keep our libraries and children’s centres open and increase our youth service provision. In January, our Volunteer Army will be launched, seeking to further extend the Big Society in Trafford.
•    Despite receiving the third highest reduction in Government grant in Greater Manchester, local Conservatives will invest an additional £2.0m in protecting the vulnerable, including:
o    (i) an extra £421k in Children’s Social Services, supporting increased provision as well as increased fostering, resulting in better outcomes for vulnerable children;
o    (ii) £240k of new funding to support those with complex additional needs including intensive fostering;
o    (iii) £1.0m extra to support increased provision for older people or those with learning disabilities; and
o    (iv) £477k more to support re-ablement for adults, helping them to live more independent lives.
•    Trafford will continue as the driving force behind economic growth in Greater Manchester, particularly in leisure and media industries. In 2012, Trafford will be one of 9 host boroughs for the Olympic Games, whilst 2013 we will see the Ashes return to the borough thanks to Council facilitated private sector regeneration of Lancashire County Cricket Club. ITV will also relocate from Manchester to Trafford in 2012. Conservatives will maintain the some of the lowest parking tariffs in the country, helping local, smaller businesses in our town centres.
•    Local Conservatives plan to maintain Trafford’s reputation as the most transparent Metropolitan Council. The Council already publishes all expenditure, irrespective of value and hosts data for all Greater Manchester local authorities and other public bodies. In January 2012, Trafford will launch Info Trafford, a new website that provides one of the most comprehensive datasets of cross agency information on one website in usable formats for local residents.

As a result of the high level of efficiencies, Trafford Conservatives will maintain front line services, including:

•    keeping library buildings open, unlike Labour in Bolton;
•    keeping youth centres, community buildings and children’s centres open, unlike Labour in Liverpool;
•    maintaining school crossing patrols, unlike Labour in Manchester; and
•    protecting the award winning youth offending service, helping to maintain Trafford as the safest place to live in Greater Manchester.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Matt Colledge, said:
“In proposing this budget Trafford Conservatives are making a clear statement: we aim to protect front line services for the benefit of our residents. It has not been an easy process but, in contrast to many Labour run councils, we are determined to maintain services such as our youth and children’s centres, keeping all of our library buildings open and preserve our lollipop patrols. Also in recognising that many residents are feeling the squeeze Trafford Conservatives propose to freeze council tax for a second year running.”

Executive member for Finance, Cllr Sean Anstee, said:
“'Conservatives in Trafford have proven that in delivering savings this year, it is possible to do more for less and make spending reductions through efficient service delivery and removing bureaucracy.”

“Our budget proposals for next year build on that pledge to ensure that nearly three quarters of the savings will not impact front line services. This contrasts favourably to Labour's slash and burn approach.”

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Alex Williams, said:
“Trafford Conservatives have maintained our record of delivering austerity savings from efficiencies, reductions in bureaucracy, collaboration and new methods of service delivery. Unlike Labour Councils up and down the country we have not and will not cut the front line first. Conservative run Trafford will maintain basic services as a priority, including increased provision for the most vulnerable.”

The Conservative budget proposals will be subject to scrutiny before being considered by the full Council in February 2012.