Savings targets axe hangs over Northumberland projects

Oct 13 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

MILLIONS of pounds could be axed from community projects in Northumberland amid savings targets set for the new unitary authority.

And historic Seaton Delaval Hall could be among the schemes which misses out on cash.

The new Northumberland County Council must find £27m of savings before it sits for the first time in April next year.

A spokesman for the authority said it was right that all planned council spending should be scrutinised before it was approved. A Joint Transition Forum (JTF) was set up to oversee the coordination of projects in the run-up to the creation of the unitary authority.

It will rule on all investment planned by the current district councils in line with Government rules.

The forum meets at the end of this month and will make recommendations to the council executive on whether the money is allowed to be spent.

Among the cash up for discussion is £1.5m allocated by Alnwick Council for various projects and another £300,000 which is unallocated.

Blyth Valley Council want to give £100,000 to help save Seaton Delaval Hall. But that cash is also under threat, alongside between £700,000 and £800,000 for other community projects.

Northumberland County Council’s director of finance has already warned of possible tough decisions ahead.

Among the groups promised funds are Alnwick Town Football Club, who were due to get £20,000 to help refurbish changing rooms and the shower block, new toilets, a new roof and other works.

Chairman of the club Tommy McKie said the cash was urgently needed and he would organise protests if it was witheld.

He said: “It would not surprise us the way things are going, that is the politics of today.

“If it has been passed by one and it goes to the other and it is knocked back, I will want to know why.

“We do need it. If we do not get it, I will be jumping into the car and going down to county hall with the cavalry.”

Alnwick district councillor Steve Bridgett backed the football club’s stance.

He said: “This is money which has been saved by Alnwick Council and paid by Alnwick Council tax payers. It was approved by the council and should be spent in Alnwick.”

Blyth Valley councillor Dave Stephens called for the investment in Seaton Delaval Hall to be approved.

He said: “The money for Seaton Delaval Hall was about the council investing in the future. This building is very important for the whole region and it is important this money is allowed to go towards buying it.”

A Northumberland County Council spokesman said: “The Joint Transition Forum has cross-party representation and is made up of district and county councillors from all Northumberland councils. Each has a vote on any issue brought for the forum's consideration.

“It is duty-bound by Government to scrutinise significant unplanned expenditure by any Northumberland council.

“Indeed it is absolutely right that it does so, particularly in light of demanding efficiency savings enforced by Government. In these circumstances, the forum must make tough decisions about what the priorities should be.”

Berwick MP Alan Beith blamed the way the new unitary authority was set up by the Government for the new shortage of funds. He said: “I hope the Joint Transition Forum understands just how important many of these projects are and passes them.

“Much of the blame for this problem has to go to the Government. The rules they imposed on the changeover were far too stringent and I complained about them at the time.”