Manchester takes cost-cutting action

摘要

A £50m programme of cost-cutting measures has been put forward by officers in Manchester in an effort to tackle a looming £105m budget deficit. Despite the impact of the coronavirus crisis, Manchester City Council is confident it can balance the books this year, due in part to how airport dividends are accounted for and £24m of funding from the Government in its latest round of grants. However, the council still faces a budget gap of £105m in 2021/22 after using reserves, increasing to £147m the following year. In a report to senior councillors, officers warned: 'The scale of the changes required to deliver all of the above are so significant that this will require a fundamental review of the future size, shape and purpose of the council.' Proposals include £20m of cuts to the council's contribution to the pooled health and social care budget, £7.1m of reductions in capacity across all support services and £3.6m cuts to homelessness services.