In a turbulent world, Bristol will meet the challenges of reduced resources and social change in a spirit of confidence.  Bristol, with its economy increasingly driven by knowledge-based industry, has undoubtedly been affected by recession.  Despite this, we remain one of the five UK cities to watch for a private sector-led recovery, according to the Centre for Cities, and the administration at the city council will be investing resources and energy in Bristol’s future prosperity.

As you know, in its efforts to rebalance Britain’s economy, the present Coalition government is cutting back hard on support for local authorities.  Councils up and down the country are experiencing unprecedented cuts in their own funding – and struggling with unprecedented pressure to make substantial savings of their own right across the board.

This financial year (2011-12), Bristol City Council found that with skill and good planning we’re on track to make £28 million of savings without having to slash back frontline services, as many authorities felt obliged to do, and without having to make large numbers of staff redundant.

Next financial year, with a net figure of around another £21 million in savings to find, the task has been harder.  The council is slimmer and leaner than it was before.  It is changing and, we hope, becoming more responsive to the needs of the people of Bristol.  The change will continue.  You will see from the budget figures for next year that the largest cut – around £8 million – has been in the council’s central organisation.

In an uncertain world, though, we know we have to provide stability, where this is possible.  For a second year running, we will be freezing council tax.  This will be good news to the many elderly pensioners and families on low incomes who face enough challenges to their own budgets without facing a council tax hike.

However, large numbers of vulnerable people in Bristol are dependent on our services.  They can depend on the council to protect services wherever this is possible – even though this may sometimes mean a change in the way services are provided.  Nowhere is this more the case than in the areas of social care and children and young people’s services, where society’s needs and government policy are forcing the pace of change.

reduction due to reduced funding from government

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