COUNCIL chiefs have warned that huge cuts to public services will have to be carefully monitored to achieve the required savings.

Dorset County Council’s cabinet has approved a raft of cutbacks that are aimed at saving the authority £31million in the coming financial year.

The proposed savings will now go before the full council for a final decision on Thursday, February 17.

Chief finance officer Paul Kent told the cabinet that the council’s grant settlement from central government had finally been confirmed on Monday.

He said it was largely in line with what had been suggested when they drew up plans to save £55million over the next three years, with a £31million required in 2011/12, resulting in the loss of an estimated 500 posts.

Mr Kent said that, after extensive work to identify where the money could be saved next year, the council was now in a position to put forward a balanced budget as well as a freeze on council tax for 2011/12.

He said that of the savings identified for next year, one third affected front line services.

Mr Kent added that he recognised there had been public reaction to proposals, including cuts to libraries, school crossing patrols and making council staff take unpaid leave.

However, Mr Kent said any savings the council misses out on by backtracking on unpopular measures would have to be compensated with other cuts elsewhere.

He said: “If proposals have to be reduced or discarded in 2011/12 then we will have to put something else in their place.

“It is important when we get to trying to deliver a programme of this size that we monitor closely the impact of savings and make sure we do it as promptly as we can to avoid the prospect of overspending taking place in 2011/12.”

Cabinet member for corporate resources Spencer Flower added: “Clearly we are on a knife edge here and it is very clear to me that if we fail to meet any of the planned savings then we bring ourselves into difficulty.”

Council leader Angus Campbell warned that the pain would be felt for several years to come.

He said: “We know it is difficult for Dorset, as it is for other organisations, and it’s not going to go away.

“Even if we get this year right we have got three or four years to go.”

Coun Campbell added: “It’s a very difficult job but I think most local authorities recognise that we do need to try and help get the country back on its feet and have shouldered these tasks manfully.”

What could face the axe

Adult and community services

• A single value for money programme for the Community Care cost centre to deliver efficient and effective services – total saving of £4.2million over three years including £1.547m in 2011/12

• Reconfiguration of the public library service – total saving of £578,300 including £417,300 in 2011/12

• Reduction in public library service books and materials – saving of £143,000 in 2011/12

• Reduction in Learning Disability base budget – saving of £1,244,600 in 2011/12

Children’s services

• Restructure of Dorset Music Service – total saving of £193,000 including £64,300 in 2011/12

• Restructure of Dorset County Council Outdoor Education Service – total saving of £216,900 including £72,300 in 2011/12

• Not re-tendering contract with WAVES youth service – saving of £80,000 in 2011/12

• Halve loyalty payments for foster carers – saving of £35,000 in 2011/12

Corporate resources

• Cease contributing to the Colliton Club and its support processes – saving of £21,000 in 2011/12

• Restructure of the Communications and Customer Services Unit with the reduction of eight posts, cost savings through the reduction in opening hours – total saving of £467,000 including £300,000 in 2011/12

• Reducing consultancy expenditure allocated to support delivery of the Meeting Future Challenges programme – saving of £50,000 in 2011/12

Environment

• Proposals to reduce posts and capacity in property management division - saving of £422,200 in 2011/12 n Comprehensive highways and transportation review – total savings of £3,297,000 including £2,089,500 in 2011/12

• Introduction of part burn street lighting in residential/urban environments – total saving of £150,000 including £50,000 in 2011/12 n Efficiency saving in school crossing patrol service – total saving of £240,000 including £80,000 in 2011/12

Overarching savings

• Review of County Hall parking to generate revenue – total saving of £165,000 including £41,300 in 2011/12

• Implement the outcomes of national pay negotiations which may apply the Government’s proposals for a pay freeze over two years – Saving of £3,536,000 in 2011/12

• Changes to pay and terms and conditions – total saving of £2,637,000 including £1,000,000 in 2011/12

• Withdrawal of the subsidised lease car scheme to all employees – total saving of £292,400 including £5,400 in 2011/12