Shropshire Council looks forward to a bright future for the county

Through starting to make fundamental changes in the way it delivers its services, Shropshire Council has balanced its budget for 2011/12, and has met the challenging target of the biggest spending cut ever faced by local councils.

The council is required by the Coalition Government’s funding cuts to make an unprecedented series of major reductions in its spending, totalling £85 million over three years.  The biggest part of these had to be made within the first year, 2011/12, meaning some difficult choices for Shropshire Councillors.

Everything the council does was put under the microscope to ensure the necessary efficiencies were made without cutting essential frontline services, by taking a fundamental look at the way services are delivered for Shropshire residents in future.

The widest consultation in living memory was held by the council, with many people across the county being involved, to identify what public services they needed and valued most to live healthy, independent lives.  The council also looked to its partners in the private sector, and in local voluntary and community groups, to determine how the needs of Shropshire people could be better met by working together more effectively in future. Significant changes are being made across the council, as the beginning of a continuing journey of transforming how public services are provided to local people.

These changes have made Shropshire Council a leaner organisation and one that is better equipped for the future, capable of tackling the challenges of further funding cuts ahead. With its local partners, the council is working to ensure that Shropshire’s economy is growing and businesses are competitive and resilient, to create jobs and prosperity for local people.

This will be supported by a sustainable infrastructure, including: appropriate housing; care and support that meets the needs of local people; good broadband coverage; and a workforce that has access to well-paid, more secure, and satisfying local employment.

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet will meet on Wednesday 4 April 2012 to review the Capital and Revenue Monitoring Reports, which confirm the council has balanced its books for the 2011/12 financial year, reducing costs for local taxpayers by £32.3 million over the past 12 months.

Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of the council, welcomed the progress made:

“This has been an incredibly challenging time for everyone and we have done our utmost to ensure that we protect the most vulnerable and support our key business sectors in Shropshire.  I am delighted that we have been able to avoid any increase in our element of the council tax bill for the third year running.  We owe it to the people of Shropshire to ensure we give them a truly efficient council, offering real value for money, without sacrificing the quality and range of the many important services we offer.  I believe, that if we were a private company and our electorate were shareholders, Shropshire residents should be delighted in the progress of their organisation and be satisfied with the further improvements we plan to make over the next few years.  Our staff have been wonderful during this difficult period of major change.”

Kim Ryley, chief executive of Shropshire Council, said:

“Difficult decisions have been made over the past year, but we are now in a position to start to look forward to a bright and flourishing future for Shropshire.  Given the changing needs and preferences of local people, the council recognises the need to boldly change the way we do things.  In some cases, our local partners and communities themselves are better placed to deliver services in ways that are innovative, engaging, and more fitting to the ever-changing needs of our society.  We will continue to challenge ourselves to change our role and evolve our organisation, so that it concentrates on shaping Shropshire as a great place to live, work in, and visit.  I want to personally thank our staff, and our local partners, for all they are doing to make this possible.”