Wirral Council budget: key facts

Mar 9 2011 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

Zero council tax increase

1,100 jobs axed from council on voluntary severance and early retirement – no compulsory redundancies

£2m on restructuring and retraining

Five council respite and care homes to close

Sure Start budget protected

£50,000 for new “youth hub” in Birkenhead

£800,000 to support children with disabilities into adulthood

£20,000 for an Armed Forces Community Welfare pathway

£60,000 for daytime staffing of CCTV control room

£1.6m on roads maintenance and safety improvements

£275,000 on extending 20mph zones around schools and residential areas

£2.8m installing solar power in council buildings to create “mini-power stations”

£120,000 to make dog fouling enforcement team permanent

£60,000 on weekend clean-ups of play areas and football league pitches

£240,000 on libraries and reading schemes

£482,000 on “Free after 3” parking, Monday to Friday

£192,000 on dealing with empty shops

£500,000 cleaning shopping areas

£250,000 advice and Business Angels scheme to support SMEs

Maintain £11m investment in community, voluntary and faith groups