Extract of article written by Claire Marshall in the Gloucestershire Gazette - CLICK HERE for full article and link to The Gazette
In his 30 year career in local government, David Hagg, chief executive of the district council, said the recent budget cuts were the worst in terms of speed and the level of reduction he had witnessed.
He was speaking at a press conference following budget announcements for the next two years at the council, in which Stroud will have to battle the largest cut in Government grant in the whole country – a reduction of 28 per cent over two years.
At a meeting of the cabinet it was announced that over the two year period spending in the district would be brought down from £6.546 million to £4.673 million.
This, councillors were told, would be achieved by a reduction in staff numbers of 10 per cent, making departments more efficient and generating more income from projects such as installing renewable energy technology and renting out parts of Ebley Mill headquarters.
