COUNCILLORS have warned of more cuts and a council tax rise as they look to plug a £16.2 million gap in funding for 2014/15.


The council’s executive board was given the base of the council budget for the next financial year which includes up to 75 job losses and service redesigns to help save money.


But it still has plans to invest in schemes including loans to households for energy efficiency works, investment in the crazy golf course at Walton Hall Gardens and funding for new community facilities.


Clr Russ Bowden, executive board member for corporate resources and assignments, said: “We have some £16.2 million worth of savings bearing in mind it comes on top of £50 million savings in previous years.


“That £16.2 million is only part of £50 million worth of savings we need to make over the next four years.


“We are looking at opportunities for income to mitigate the impact on some resources and decisions on service cuts.”


Council tax looks set to rise by 1.98 per cent as the council decided not to take on Government funding to pay for a freeze - a scheme the council also turned down last year saying the money paid out would not be enough.


“We decided last year it wasn’t in our interest to take the one per cent council tax loan due to that ever decreasing funding from Government and we take that view again this year,” added Clr Bowden.

The budget will be voted on by full council on March 3.