John Hart to warn Exeter of council's spending cuts

Devon County Council leader, John Hart, is meeting people in Exeter next week to deliver a stark warning on upcoming cuts. 

Mr Hart has warned that due to the scale of these cuts there could be ‘no sacred cows’ and “Anyone who thinks we can carry on providing the same level of services while making those sort of cuts is, frankly, living in cloud cuckoo land.”

Yesterday the Local Government Association which represents 373 councils in England and Wales, demanded that the Chancellor George Osborne allow for a period of financial stability before making any further cuts.

This would allow for local authorities to make preparations and help to avoid any more councils falling to bankruptcy as deficits mount up.

Local Government Association Chairman Sir Merrick Cockell said: “The severe and unprecedented squeeze on funding is already going to reduce by 66 per cent the money available for some of the most highly visible and popular services council provide.

“The Government must not exacerbate that problem by deepening the cuts in the Autumn Statement. Councils need a period of stability and consistency so they can plan for the unprecedented challenges which lie ahead."

Devon has already cut £100m over the past four years and now could have to lose £110m more by 2017.

Mr Hart will be at Exeter City Football Club on Tuesday, November 12 from 6:30pm

Mr Hart will invite local people to have their say on the potential cuts and for communities to come up with new ways of helping to support the services they don’t want to lose.

A new website has been set up for residents to communicate with the county council at www. toughchoices.co.uk

Mr Hart said: “Suffice to say, throughout all these difficult times, I will do my utmost for Devon.

“We will strive to provide the most vital services for the young, the elderly and the vulnerable.

“I will continue to lobby this Government and individual Ministers very strongly for a fairer deal for Devon.

“We are beginning to see the very welcome signs of recovery, which is what this period of austerity has been all about.

“In Devon unemployment is down to its lowest for years.

“Devon County Council takes pride in working with other authorities and organisations locally to invest considerable amounts of money on developing our economy and unlocking growth.“