Somerset's Stark Choices
The 麻豆社's Alex Forsyth gets the inside track as the Lib Dem run council faces the huge challenge of finding savings of 拢100 million pounds.
Local government is facing one of its toughest years 鈥� as demand for essential services rises 鈥� and inflation, the rising cost of living, eats up funding. Discretionary spending for many authorities - from libraries to youth clubs - has already run out.
Somerset is among one of the many councils in dire financial straits. As it tries to set its budget from April - it faces a huge challenge - finding savings of 拢100 million pounds. And that 鈥� inevitably 鈥� will mean some pretty stark choices; switching off CCTV, closing all public toilets, closing five recycling centres and withdrawing funding from sports centres and support services. It also wants to put council tax up.
Alex Forsyth 鈥� a 麻豆社 Political correspondent 鈥� has been getting the inside track on the challenges facing this Lib Dem run council. This is 5 Minutes On Somerset鈥檚 Stark Choices.
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