Croydon Council has announced it will cut almost 150 jobs as part of a new round of budget cuts aimed at saving more than £43m in the next three years.

Consultation on budget cuts which will impact services for children, vulnerable adults, drivers and council workers across the borough has begun after the papers were agreed at Croydon Cabinet on Monday December 12.

The move follows a reduction in funding from central government of more than £11m next year.

Council leader Mike Fisher says the majority of £25m in cuts this year will come from efficiencies.

He said: “Over the last four years the council has made £62m in efficiencies. This is the approach we want to take but it would be dishonest to say there will be no cuts. It is inevitable there is going to be, that is the reason for consultation and review.”

THE BAD

Job cuts

The council employs around 3,500 workers, but is looking to cut 149 posts in 2012/13.

The axe will fall hardest on workers in children, learning and families department which stands to lose 88 posts, while planning and environment will lose 22, the corporate sector faces 19 loses and the corporate resources and customers 13.

The remaining cuts will come in the adult social care health and housing department, losing five posts, and from the Chief Executive’s office, with four and a half posts removed.

Dudley Mead, cabinet member for housing, finance and asset management said: “Once cabinet has passed these measures I expect redundancies to begin. I think by now no one is under any illusion about the financial climate both here and around the world.”

Motorists

Parking permits for residents are set to rise by nine per cent.

Resident’s permits are set to rise from £70 to £76 a year for first permits, with second permits up from £116 to £126 and third permits rising from £280 to £305.

This compares with £45 per year £65 per year and, £110 per year for the third or fourth in neighbouring Sutton and prices between £35 and £75 in Bromley.

Cllr Mike Fisher pointed out that the fees are lower than Lambeth, which charges between £117 and £260 for permits.

The council is also hoping to raise more than £250,000 extra this year in parking fines.

Added hikes and cuts

Other price hikes will see a subsidised pest control service offered by the council removed, in an aim to save £25,000, and increased on charges for funerals aiming to raise almost £100,000.

Coun Dudley Mead said: “If you compare with neighbouring borough you will see our parking permits are still lower. Burial fees are an emotive issue. Our borough team are very good at gauging the right level to make sure we are competitive in our charges.”

Proposed cuts include taking £200,000 from the council’s voluntary sector grants, £260,000 from the closure of a residential home and more than half a million from cuts to the Arts and Heritage budget.

The Vulnerable

Children with special needs may be forced to take regular buses to school under proposed changes to travel services.

Croydon Council is looking to cut down its taxi and bus services as it seeks to make savings of up to £600,000 by 2014/15.

The council said it wanted to “allow parents to arranger their lives and those of their children in a way that suits them”.

Options considered include training some children with SEN to ride regular transport to and from school, or arranging pick-up and drop-off points instead of a door to door service.

It is also considering a private transport budget for parents.

Councillor Tim Pollard, cabinet member for children, young people and learners, said: “It is vital we maintain a proper level of service for parents and young people - particularly those who are the most vulnerable and in the greatest need.

“For this reason we will be listening very closely to everyone who contributes to this and I am committed to taking notice of all of the views we receive so that our final decision is a balanced and informed one.”

A centre giving breaks to adults with learning disabilities is set to close.

Craignish Avenue will be shut, with its services transferred to another similar site, Heather Way, and to private hotel providers.

THE GOOD

Council tax will be frozen despite massive cuts from central government.

Transport for London is paying £4.4m to fun redevelopment of the area surrounding East Croydon.

A second bid for £4.2m was submitted to TfL in August for further development projects with a decision expected this month.

A 50-place school for secondary school aged pupils with challenging behaviour at the Priory School site is to be built.

£35.4m has been earmarked for working on delivering the special educational needs programme, with full details of the projects to be released next year.

£7.8m, provided by the government, will be spent on expanding four primary schools.

Monks Orchard, Heavers Farm, Purley Oaks and Spring Park will all have an additional class from September 2012.

Discussions are in place to also expand Downsview.

A further seven bulge classes will be agreed at primary schools in the borough the following year.