Chaos broke out at a Tameside council meeting as councillors were heckled by protesters as they confirmed cuts and an increased council tax bill.
The 4.99 per cent council tax increase was approved at the March 5 meeting. Alongside the tax rise, Tameside Council balanced their books by making 'spending reductions' which council leader Gerald Cooney admitted would be looked at as cuts to the everyday residents.
He went on to highlight to Guardsman Tony Downes House in Droylsden that the total cumulative spending cuts since 2010/11 now stands at £215 million, with a further £70 million being currently forecast as necessary to deliver a balanced budget each year to 2028/29.
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The proceedings were constantly disrupted by protestors outside booming “free, free Palestine” and “we want a ceasefire”. The protesters were referenced a number of times by councillors who couldn't hear what was going on.
The planned town hall savings include cuts to adults, children's and corporate services, with £2.2m, £4.1m and £3.7m savings planned in each of those departments.
Proposals include reducing placements for children in external homes, with town hall staff working with them in family 'settings'. A review of home to school transport is also due to be carried out.
Council papers read: "Significant budget reductions are proposed within Children’s Social Care for 2024/25, with a clear focus on supporting children in familial settings as part of the Children’s Improvement plan, moving away from external residential settings and with the knowledge that better outcomes for children, cost less.
"In addition, a full review of transport options across the council, including home to school transport with a view to build resilience and independence are underway with a theme of maximising independence for young people."
Trying to talk over the constant chants and music outside, Coun Jacqueline North, executive cabinet member with responsibility for finance, detailed how the council identified new spending reductions totalling £11.83 million.
The meeting heard how these savings, along with £5.7 million generated through increased council tax and £17.8 million through increases to other sources of funding and income will deliver a legal and balanced budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Coun Liam Billington even stood up to label them as “a disgrace” - leading one woman in the public gallery to clap back, screaming for a ceasefire. She and one other were ejected from the meeting shouting for a ceasefire and accusing Coun Billington of not "funding fish and chips".
Finance boss Coun North said in a statement: “It is not a decision that we have made lightly, and in doing so we have considered evidence and feedback from a range of sources including expert opinion from our officers, discussions at Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the findings of our public Budget Conversation that ran from December to February.
“The council delivers over 800 public services for Tameside and is under a legal obligation to provide the majority of these, including specialist services for vulnerable children and adults, demand for which has multiplied in recent years. The council also funds services such as waste collection, homelessness, public health, and road maintenance.
“The increase in council tax will go towards protecting and preserving vital services – especially those that support our most vulnerable residents.”
Here is a breakdown of how much extra each household will pay per week:
- Band A properties: £1.11 extra per week
- Band B properties: £1.29 extra per week
- Band C properties: £1.48 extra per week
- Band D properties: £1.66 extra per week
- Band E properties: £2.03 extra per week
- Band F properties: £2.40 extra per week
- Band G properties: £2.77 extra per week
- Band H properties: £3.33 extra per week
The council also approved the modifications to the Places for Everyone - Joint Development Plan. The major PfE developments for Tameside include Godley Green Garden Village (2,350 homes), Ashton Moss West (Light Industrial and B2 General Industrial use) and South of Hyde (440 homes).
