Mendip District Council votes to cut jobs in budget

New budget cuts meant that twenty-three jobs are due to be axed from Mendip District Council following the authority approving its budget for the next financial year. 

A 14% cut in central government funding meant the council was forced to make total savings of £2m. With a workforce of just under 200 staff and commanding a budget of £16m, the council had to further reduce its number of employees in addition to having already reduced the number of managers it employs. At the same meeting councillors voted to freeze their share of council tax leaving parish councils still to decide whether to increase their percentage of the portion of council tax. Voluntary groups including Citizens Advice will continue to be supported.

Stuart Brown, Mendip's chief executive said "I'd like to pay tribute to all our managers and staff who have been exceedingly patient and very cooperative while all these difficult plans have been drawn-up. It hasn't been an easy process and there have been many challenges along the way. we will continue to work with staff and UNISON while the final details of the reshape are put into action."

Councillors at Mendip District Council have decided not to increase their allowances despite a recommendation from an independent panel in an effort to not further compound the impact of the cuts.

The Independent Remuneration Panel proposed a £600 increase to the councillors' £3,605 yearly expenses. 

Councillors at the Conservative-led council also agreed not to increase the leader's Special Responsibility Allowance from £10,000 to £12,000. 

A grant of £56,000 to arts funds will also not be renewed. A recent petition against Somerset County Council’s announcement that all of the county’s £159,000 budget would be cut has also sadly only resulted in 4497 signatures so far http://www.gopetition.com/petition/40729.html where a minimum of 5000 are required to generate a new debate at the council’s February meeting.