THE extent of proposed cuts to the council’s budget have been revealed ahead of next week’s cabinet meeting.
The papers, published yesterday (Monday), include a proposal to save £3.6 million from the adult services budget alone, including £1.5 million by increasing the threshold for free home care for the elderly.
The remainder could come from changes to charges for services such as meals on wheels and day care, paid for through the new personal budget scheme.
It has also been proposed that the Westminster House respite centre in Newport relocate to the lower ground floor of Freshwater-based Gouldings day care centre and residential home.
Island fire control could be merged with another area in a bid to reduce the current cost per call of between £305 and £338 to around half that figure, saving £900,000 over three years.
The cabinet papers conclude a merger with other Island emergency services control facilities would be not practicable.
An £8 million plan to upgrade leisure facilities is likely to be cut, after the report described it as unaffordable in the current climate.
Although it will not be axed altogether, the report states that additional revenue costs must be cut.
"To achieve this it will be necessary to scale back on the investment in three facilities but invest more in revenue generating facilities at Westridge," it stated.
Back-office costs across the authority will be targeted in a bid to save 30 per cent. That could include reducing the number of council publications, events and conferences.
The report recommends that the cabinet — due to meet on Tuesday, September 14 — consult before implementing changes to the free social care for the elderly and other support services, before final decisions in February and implementation in April 2011.
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk