Job cuts, hikes in burial and waste fees and service reductions affecting the disabled are likely to be on the way.

It had been warned for some time that difficult choices would need to be made to balance Durham County Council's books in the coming years.

Now, the shape of those hard decisions is starting to become clear with proposals to go before council leaders on Wednesday (October 12) then out to consultation.

Proposed savings could affect people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities and mental health difficulties, young men facing homelessness, older residents, travellers and young people wanting to take part in international events.

Weekly charges may be introduced for the support of hundreds of people who cannot manage their own finances.

Other proposed changes range from raising cemetery fees, garden waste and bulky waste collection charges to stopping the use of "commercially unviable" miniature cars at Wharton Park.

Read more: Durham County Council calls for government help as it faces £15m overspend

The council has so far drawn up plans to save more than £17.7m in the next four years - just over a third of the £52m it needs to save.

A report reveals the potential impact of those savings, which may affect vulnerable groups and could lead to redundancies.

The council predicts it will need to save almost £52.6m in the next four to five years, even after assuming maximum council tax increases.

It says this is "extremely challenging and should not be underestimated", especially as the council has already made £250m of savings in the last decade.

It asserts it has protected front-line services as much as possible so far, but now "the scope for further savings in managerial and back office efficiencies is becoming exhausted".

The council will have to save almost £37.4m in the 2023-24 financial year alone - £15.4m higher than previously forecast, and the figure still "could change significantly".

Read more: Many Durham schools 'will struggle to balance budgets next year'

So far, the council has drawn up plans to save £17.7m, including £11.85m in 2023-4, still leaving £25.5m to find in that year.

The council's report outlines "savings from staff restructure", "phased reduction in posts", "efficiencies", "rationalisation" and "releasing capacity".

Staff reductions and deleting vacant posts are put forward in several areas with early retirement and voluntary redundancy "to minimise impact", and an education restructure already complete.

It is proposed to:

  • Make "efficiencies" in adult and health services "which may impact vulnerable groups" and particularly affect people with disabilities, men and the Gypsy Roma Traveller community;
  • Reduce services mainly used by young men with potential homelessness and mental health issues;
  • Reduce the cost of "high-cost learning disability support packages", affecting people with those disabilities and their carers, while aiming to "encourage independence and improve welfare" with "no negative impact on service users";
  • Bring in weekly charges of £5 or £7.50 for supporting people who are found unable to manage their finances after a mental capacity assessment - 458 clients, mostly men;
  • Review services for the deaf or hearing-impaired, but the council expects impact to be "minimised with efficiencies focused primarily on premises and associated utilities", with more access to support hubs;
  • Reduced spending on One Point, which provides free advice, support and activities for children, young people and families, with "negative impact expected to be minimal due to greater use of virtual technology";
  • Fee increases with a "disproportionate impact for disabled and older residents", including reviews of burial and garden waste fees and upping bulky waste collection charges from £16 to £18;
  • Removing the discount rate for park and ride users and adding contactless payment on buses;
  • Reducing an international team which "will adversely affect opportunities for young people in the county to participate in international and/or intercultural events", amid reducing demand due to Brexit and the pandemic;
  • Reduce staff in the resources service, "with a disproportionate impact in terms of disability, older age and men", with a warning of pressure on staff leading to burn-out and poor health;
  • Make a "significant number of staff reductions" in business support services over four years, with a management restructure next year, and "some compulsory redundancies may be required";
  • Review face-to-face services at customer services and access points, affecting disabled and older people, with reduced opening hours;
  • Review reserves to make sure budgets can be balanced, potentially "replenishing" and "bolstering" reserves by £36m while pausing some projects and programmes.

The proposals are going out to consultation in October and November, which will feed into final budget decisions next February.

The report says a "fair funding review" into the money given to local governments was anticipated this year - but it has now been delayed for at least two to three years.

It says councils "desperately need" to know what Government support is coming to "offset the significant financial pressures".

It adds: "If government provide additional funding to local government in the finance settlement for 2023-24, this gap could be reduced and potentially eradicated depending on the level of investment provided.

"It is currently unclear whether and the extent to which any additional funding will be provided.

"However, there is also a risk that the gap widens if cost pressures, particularly in relation to energy and in looked after children’s placement budgets, continue to escalate.

"At this point it is likely the council would need to utilise significant levels of reserves to balance the budget in 2023-24."

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