Town hall reveals plans to save £41.5m

PLANS FOR HIGHER PARKING FEES, LITTER FINES, SOCIAL CARE CHARGES AND COUNCIL TAX RISE

- JOSEPH TIMAN

HIGHER parking fees, £180 litter fines and increased social care charges could be introduced in Manchester while council tax is set to rise by 5 per cent as the town hall tries to close a multi-million pound gap in its budget.

The local authority has set out a series of options that would save the council £41.5million. As things stand, the budget for next year is £29m short, but this shortfall will increase to £77m within a couple of years unless savings are made.

The council claims it would have £443m a year more to spend had it not been forced to make cuts over the last 14 years and been funded properly.

Measures in the new Labour government's first budget month last have improved the council's financial position 'somewhat' - but the town hall still does not know how much money it will get.

The savings options put forward by the local authority are mostly about generating more income, for example through parking fees, digital advertising screens and social care charges. This includes a move which could see those with the most assets pay the full cost of the care they receive at home from the council, with care homes exempt.

This could save the council £7.5m over three years.