2:55pm Monday 12th July 2010
NATIONAL cost-cutting measures have seen £1.4million of Government funding withdrawn from Southend Council.
The loss of the money, which was pledged in the form of capital and revenue grants, will mean cuts will have to be made to several grant-aided services.
The austerity measures will be implemented with immediate effect, and councillors will discuss where the cuts will have to be made at a meeting on Thursday.
Funding for the free swimming programme for youngsters and older people has also been removed, meaning the council is withdrawing the service from the end of this month.
Also set to suffer are plans for a £660,000 athletics track at Chase High School, which will now not go ahead.
Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: "We are fully aware that these cuts will have a real effect on people across Southend, but we have been left with no choice."
Coming just four months into the financial year, the cuts will mean the council has to re-think its plans.
Mr Holdcroft said: "In-year cuts are always the most difficult to manage because plans have already been made against an expected level of income.
"This is a particularly challenging time for the council, which has been working extremely hard to minimise the impact on frontline services."
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