Free swimming sessions axed as Government cuts funding (From Echo)

Free swimming sessions axed as Government cuts funding

7:00pm Wednesday 14th July 2010 in

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FREE swimming sessions for youngsters and pensioners, as well as plans for a new school athletics track, will be scrapped after Southend Council lost out on Government grants.

Under national funding cuts, Southend will miss out on £1.4million of Government cash.

There are also likely to be cuts in education, transport, road safety, youth work and children’s services.

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “I think it was always apparent, whatever happened at the election, that we would face some cuts. But in-year cuts are always harder, because funding has been allocated and some has already been spent.

“But, if by making these decisions now reduces some of the pain further down the track, it has to be worthwhile.”

He added that from next year, the council would know the amount of money available when setting subsequent budgets.

Mr Holdcroft added: “Next year we will be able to plan and prioritise. This year we are reacting to the cuts in expenditure which have been identified by the Government.

“It is cutting certain pots, which means, effectively, there isn’t much decision-making. We are trying to make sure the cuts have as little effect as possible.”

Councillors will discuss where more cuts will be made at Thursday’s full meeting, with the decisions effective immediately.

As well as the free swimming sessions, £660,000 was to be spent creating a new athletics track at Chase High School, in Prittlewell Chase.

The loss of swimming funds will be a blow to many parents, as the programme will stop at the end of this month, shortly after the start of the summer holidays.

Mr Holdcroft said: “The cost of the grant we have lost is £99,000. We are not in any position to fund out of other resources, particularly as it’s a new cut which has been foisted upon us.”

He said he hoped the council would not have to make redundancies this year, but added they would be almost inevitable in the future.

Mr Holdcroft added: “We are freezing recruitment and insofar as jobs being at risk we are putting those individuals into a talent pool and trying to match them to other suitable vacancies.

“It would be remarkable if any local council could go through the next year’s cuts without having to make redundancies.”