Nottinghamshire County Council downsize civic office as part of cost-cutting measure

Council bosses are looking to make £154m worth of savings over the next three years due to Government funding cuts for local services.

Where possible, the council is trying to make the savings in areas which do not affect frontline services, especially those to vulnerable people, such as children, older people and people with disabilities.

The civic office supports the function of the Chairman of the County Council.

Budget proposals being implemented by the council will save an estimated £87,000 by:

Making two dedicated civic support posts redundant

Selling the civic car and using a contract vehicle and driver for a limited number of special events

Reducing the scale and number of events hosted by the chairman

Optimising the use of the Civic Suite

As well as continuing to chair County Council meetings, the Chairman of the Council Chairman will continue to represent the authority and Nottinghamshire on special occasions such as Royal visits, community and charity events.

Jayne Francis-Ward, corporate director for policy, planning and corporate services, said: “As Nottinghamshire’s first citizen, the role of Chairman of the Council is a well-respected and important position. However, these are exceptional times and the Council is being forced to take some very difficult decisions about the services it can continue to provide due to continued Government austerity.

“Although the Chairman’s function has already been reduced in recent years, by cutting back our support costs to the absolute minimum we are able to avoid the need for further savings to frontline services elsewhere, whilst still retaining the role of Chairman.

“The reductions to the Chairman’s function are part of a package of measures to reduce Councillor-related costs, including the proposal to half the Councillors Divisional Fund, stop holding Member Forum meetings, switching to paperless Committee meetings and freeze allowances for a fourth successive year.”