Buses, libraries and recycling centres face the axe and street lights are set to be turned off as councils battle to avoid going bankrupt next year. A damning survey says just 22% of England's county councils are confident of avoiding "financial insolvency" without extra government help. Three-quarters say they are likely to cut bus subsidies - which let services run on less popular routes - in a bid to save cash. And nearly two-thirds (63%) said they are likely to turn off some streetlights during the night - despite fears for women's safety. Just over half said they would likely reduce opening hours at libraries or recycling centres, or shut them altogether. The County Councils Network, which spoke to 32 of its 36 member councils in England, warned they have an £821m black hole in budgets next year. Nearly two thirds said they are likely to cut bus subsidies (stock photo) ( Getty Images) Unlike the Tory government, they are forced by law to balance their budgets every year - meaning 'everything is on the table' for cuts. County halls are grappling with £3.5bn of extra costs "this year and next" due to inflation and rising demand, the CCN said. Vice-Chairman Sam Corcoran, the leader of Cheshire East Council, said: 'The next two years are shaping up to be some of the most challenging for councils in recent memory. 'After a decade of austerity and with inflation soaring, if the Chancellor does not spare councils from further cuts and provide more funding for local authorities, everything is on the table when considering which vital services to cut." Some 63% are likely to scale back school transport services while nearly half (45%) believe they could cut children's centres or youth services. And 72% told the network's su){kind=link}
A damning survey says barely a fifth of England’s county councils are confident they’ll avoid ‘insolvency’ without extra government help – and libraries and recycling centres are in danger
Buses, libraries and recycling centres face the axe and street lights are set to be turned off as councils battle to avoid going bankrupt next year.
A damning survey says just 22% of England’s county councils are confident of avoiding “financial insolvency” without extra government help.
Three-quarters say they are likely to cut bus subsidies – which let services run on less popular routes – in a bid to save cash.
And nearly two-thirds (63%) said they are likely to turn off some streetlights during the night – despite fears for women’s safety.