A SENIOR councillor has responded to a suggestion that more savings could be made at Cumberland Council.

Councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent Group) directed a question at councillor Barbara Cannon (St Michaels, Labour), who is the portfolio holder for financial planning and assets, at Tuesday’s (April 30) meeting of the full council at the Civic Centre in Carlisle.

In his question, which was taken as read to save time, he asked: “The past four years of Covid, austerity, cost of living crisis and cutbacks has taken its toll, and many people are still suffering.

“The taxpayers of Cumberland are looking for this council to lead by example and make cutbacks accordingly.

“But there is still apathy within Cumberland, many people voted for Labour hoping they would be better off but it doesn’t matter which party is in control, they are all the same, promise the earth and give nothing in return.

“So far, this council has not delivered savings and cut its cloth accordingly, which is why I voted against the budget. It rejected my questions and challenge to save £350,000 of savings by reducing the number of directors and assistant directors and it also rejected abolition of the total payment of £68,000 to elected members for chairing committees.”

In addition, he highlighted the fact that the council is paying consultants an “eye watering” £623,000 per year and he claimed that was not the total figure.

In his question he added: “I am still awaiting further information from the chief finance officer on the actual total cost of consultants used to date which I believe should have been set out in the budget papers for members to scrutinise but were not.

“I believe we can also make savings by reducing mileage and expenses for the chief executive, directors, assistant directors, senior managers, and elected members. The cost of savings to the taxpayer could be more than £2,000,000 which can be better spent on frontline services.

“My question and challenge to the leader and portfolio holder for finance is, will they lead by example and commit to support and action my savings proposal in this municipal year involving scrutiny and trade unions as necessary and draw up robust plans to save money?”

Cllr Cannon said that his original proposals were not accepted by the council in the budget mainly because he did not submit an alternative budget.

She added: “No one supported your suggestions, when you made them, either and I doubt the 151 officer would have done. The budget for this year has already been set. It is not going to change.

“You claim that this council has not made any savings and that is simply not true and none of our budget papers to this council or to the executive or the scrutiny committees back up that comment.

“I do however agree with your assessment of the effects of austerity, the impact of Covid and the cost of living crisis have had on the people of Cumberland.

“It is why we have one of the best council tax reduction schemes in the country and why we have a council plan based on people by putting health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.”

She said that his suggestion to reduce the number of directors and senior members of staff to save £350,000 was made without any thought as to the consequences of the additional workload or expertise needed.

Cllr Cannon added: “You then complain about the cost of hiring consultants without a thought for the need for specialist assistance to give us the capacity to ensure we get our transformation plans in place.”

She said the reorganisation of local government meant the council was facing a difficult financial situation and added: “We have responded to that in a proactive way.

“We have developed a comprehensive transformation plan that has received CIPFA and government support and will reduce our base budget by £75million over the three to four years.

“And we have implemented immediate savings for 2024/25 totalling £17million. This enabled us to set a balanced and legal budget supported by full council.”