A CARLISLE councillor will next week demand answers on how Cumberland Council is planning to plug a predicted £29 million overspend.
Councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent), who leads the Independent Group, will direct his question towards councillor Barbara Cannon (St Michaels, Labour) who is the portfolio holder financial planning and assets at the meeting of the full council.
He will ask: "What is the executive's plan to tackle the £29 million black hole in the budget and can you reassure the council taxpayers in Cumberland, who are already suffering from the cost-of-living crisis, that their council tax will not rise exponentially because of mismanagement of the budget?
"Can you also give a guarantee that you will not put this council further into debt by borrowing money when interest rates are so high, to plug the hole in the finances?"
In September it was revealed that the council is facing the predicted overspend of almost £29 million by the end of March next year - although this could be reduced to around £17.5 million after a number of savings were identified.
And, speaking at last month's meeting of the executive committee, the leader of the council, councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great Clifton, Labour), made a highly critical attack on the government over cuts to local authority funding for more than a decade as a major contributing factor for the current financial situation.
Cllr Fryer said he had not seen local government in the current position it found itself in financially. He added: "After 13 years of cuts the system is paper thin - it's crumbling."
He said it was not just limited to local authorities, as organisations such as the NHS were also suffering, and added: "Let me tell you the budget will be cut."
Cllr Fryer described the cuts in funding as "scurrilous" and that, going forward, they would have to look at all areas to see where savings could be made. He added: "We are going through everything with a fine-tooth comb."
He said Cumbria was harder hit because it is a rural area. He said: "It's the stark reality how it's going to look in 12 months’ time."
Speaking at the same meeting councillor Cannon outlined the budget setting process for the next financial year and warned members that it would be challenging and they were not anticipating additional funding from central government.
Tuesday's (November 21) public meeting of the full council is due to start at 1pm and will be held at the Civic Centre in Carlisle.
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