TORRIDGE District Councillors have to make 'one of their most difficult decisions in recent years'

as the authority has been forced to make massive budgetary savings.

At an extraordinary meeting of Torridge District Council on October 9, members met to review and vote on three proposals as to how services might be provided in the future amid ongoing reductions in funding from Central Government.

All three proposals involve redundancies.

Councillors heard that while considerable savings in excess of £1.1- million were already being delivered through a number of initiatives, further cost reductions were needed to bridge the gap between this and the £2.2-million total required by 2017.

The three options were presented to the council by its head of finance Steve Hearse — the two rejected options would have seen 72 and 37 job losses respectively, with the council unanimously deciding instead to try and maximise job opportunities in the district, with only 15 job losses.

Combined with other initiatives, the plan should save the council around £1.3-million a year.

The leader of the council Cllr Philip Collins said: 'This was probably one of the most difficult decisions that members have had to make in recent years.

'While the proposals under the selected option should see a balanced budget in the short term, further savings will still need to be found. Some form of joint working with other councils in the future is probably inevitable.'

Cllr Roger Johnson, Torridge's deputy leader, said: 'This was democracy in action with all members involved in deciding on a way forward for the council. The road ahead will not be an easy one and significant savings still need to be found whichever option we chose.

'All options involve some staff losses but my hope is that these can be managed by voluntary arrangements as they have been up until now.'

Jenny Wallace, head of paid service, said: 'This has been a difficult time for staff and members with some of the other proposals seeing significant reductions in staffing levels locally and the impact that would have on families and the economy.

'However, I am delighted that members felt able to support option three, which we felt offered the correct balance between savings, potential reduction in staff numbers while maintaining the quality and range of services that we provide as a council.

'Officers will now work with members to deliver the projects and initiatives contained in the approved proposals.'