Pay and display and car parking charges could rise by 30% as Sefton Council looks to save £43.7million

Dec 11 2012 by Andrew Brown, Formby Times

Sefton has already reduced its spending by £64m in the past two years and approved the implementation of a further £15.549 savings last month – but that is only 36% of the £43.7m savings it has to find between now and 2015.

Other proposals include:

Shutting every public toilet in Sefton, saving £52,000;

Reducing council workers’ pay, saving £6m, which may involve axing staff and rehiring them on new contracts;

Closing a number of day-care centres across the borough, among a series of controversial measures designed to save £7.116m from social care services;

Reducing funding for cleansing teams which clear graffiti and fly-tipping;

Saving money on street lighting, including a trial period where every other light on the A565 will be switched off.

In their report, Jan McMahon and Margaret Rawding said: “This is a time of unprecedented change for the council and Sefton communities. The impact on council services has, and will be, significant.”

FOR more details of the cuts – and local reaction – see this Thursday’s Southport Visiter.

WHAT do you think of the proposals? Please email us at: visiternews@ southportvisiter.co.uk