Ryedale warned of difficult funding decisions (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale warned of difficult funding decisions

WARNINGS of a funding headache for Ryedale District Council next year have been given by the authority's finance chief.

Trevor Teasdale told the policy and resources committee that while the council

got one of the best settlements of any local authority in the country this year - some 11 per cent - the Government was expected to cut back on its level of grant funding to councils when it announced the settlements next month for 2004-5.

The Government was adopting a "floors and ceiling" approach to funding councils with a likely minimum sum of two per cent compared with this year's three per cent, and seven per cent at the top rate of grant, as against 12.5 per cent in the current financial year.

He said council departments had made savings to fuel its "corporate pot" to fund various schemes. "However, the point has now been reached where service trimming is no longer an option," said Mr Teasdale.

Council services had to be prioritised. "Some decisions will be difficult but the sooner we start, the better."

He warned councillors: "Ryedale's settlement from the Government won't

be as good as this year." Mr Teasdale said the council had four key priorities: affordable housing; facilities for young people; rural transport; and improved leisure

facilities.

Meanwhile, the committee has agreed to appoint an environment and energy conservation officer. The post will cost £30,000 in the next financial year, said assistant chief executive John Davison and the new officer will have a wide range of responsibilities, including developing the promotion of energy efficiency schemes and implementing the council's home energy conservation strategy to bring about a 30 per cent improvement in energy efficiency by 2006.

Updated: 11:41 Friday, October 10, 2003