HTW-STORY1A-131125-EF- County Durham Braces for Cuts and Fee Increases Amid £72.8 Million Shortfall

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Durham County Council is preparing to make major spending cuts and raise parking and garden-waste fees as it grapples with the need to save £72.8 million over the next four years to balance its books.

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00:00The council says it needs to find almost £73 million in savings over the next four years

00:06with £10 million of new cost-cutting measures now being proposed.

00:11Among the changes that are being considered are parking charge increases of up to £30 per hour

00:16in towns across County Durham as well as higher garden waste collection fees.

00:21Around 88 full-time equivalent posts could be removed although many of these roles are currently vacant.

00:28Council leaders say they are determined not to raise council tax but face what they call unavoidable cost pressures

00:35including a £19 million deficit by 2026 to 2027 that has been caused by high inflation, rising interest rates

00:44and growing demand for children's social care, home to school transport and support for young people

00:49with special educational needs and disabilities. Deputy Leader Darren Grimes said balancing the books

00:55has become increasingly difficult after years of government funding cuts, warning that pressures

01:00are largely out of the council's control. The local authority is waiting to hear details from the

01:06government's autumn budget and the local government finance settlement later this year which will

01:12determine how much funding it receives. Officials say the latest proposals should have only a limited

01:18impact on frontline services but further savings and possible council tax increases may still be needed

01:24to maintain a balanced budget. Changes to the local council tax reduction scheme are also being discussed

01:31which could see the region's lowest income households contributing up to 10% towards their bills.

01:38The plans will go before cabinet members soon before final approval is made in February.

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