WILTSHIRE Council chiefs have imposed stringent spending cuts on staff in a bid to tackle an estimated overspend at County Hall of up to £10 million.

An email from corporate directors Carlton Brand and Carolyn Godfrey to all of the council’s staff leaked to the Gazette & Herald and Wiltshire Times warns they need to slash spending to avoid an estimated overspend of between £8million and £10million based on current trends.

Staff have had credit cards and even printers taken away as County Hall chiefs rein in spending.

The email warns staff: “The current forecast indicates an £8m to £10m overspend based on spending to date and continued spend based on this trend.

"The projected overspend is due to increasing demand for services – particularly adult care, safeguarding children and highway maintenance.

"A balanced budget has to be achieved. Next year - 2017/18 - we will, again, have significant pressures. At least £15m of savings will need to be found – this figure is based on this year’s budget (2016/17) being balanced.

“It is therefore critical that we take immediate action to ensure that this year’s budget does balance.   Delivering the agreed savings plans for 2016/17 is the first priority.

“But, we need to do more… “Collectively we need to take action to deliver a balanced 2016/17 budget – this affects all services, even those forecasting an underspend on budget.”

The email lists six strategies to be implemented immediately.

  • All budgets will be reduced by 1.5 per cent
  • Credit cards, procurement cards (for items such as fuel) and petty cash floats are being taken away from staff
  • The number of staff allowed to authorise spending has been cut from 271 to 170, effectively removing a tier of management from being permitted to spend money
  • Vacant posts will not be replaced and agency staff and consultants are being cut back ​
  • Decision-making on spending on stationery, building maintenance and travel is being centralised ​
  • Printers for people who from home are being taken away and their supply of paper and print cartridges is being stopped


The email adds: “We would continue to urge you to look at different ways of working to reduce costs. For example, could meetings be held via Lync to save time and travelling costs?

“We encourage you to discuss the practicalities of the actions above with your line manager, and to pass on any suggestions you may have for where money could be saved.

“This approach cannot cover all eventualities and we recognise there will be exceptions.

“We have encouraged all managers to discuss the actions and the impact these could have within their teams.”

Wiltshire Councillor Jon Hubbard, of the Liberal Democrats, said: "Wiltshire Council is running out of money because of the cuts being made by the draconian central government – there simply isn't enough money coming in.

"The council has in turn been busy making cuts of its own which is now coming back to bite us. It has been a case of saving money today to spend tomorrow and it’s now coming home to roost.

"For example, making cuts to recycling centres across Wiltshire in turn led to an increase in fly-tipping which leads to a greater expense.

"But it is important to remember that central government has been cutting tens of millions to the budget yeqar upon year, which has a big impact."

Chairman of Calne Labour Party, John Boaler, added that there must be people held reponsible outside of the accounts department.  He said: "Calne Labour Party say that while an overspend of perhaps a few hundred thousand pounds might be understandable, and excusable, one of £10 million smacks of very poor financial management and systems of accounting.

"Two areas of wasteful spending we have complained about during this year have been the half a million pounds given out since 2011 former employees as 'gagging orders' - and still the council have not explained why any of this expenditure was necessary.

"We would like to know who will take responsibility for this overspend? It cannot just be blamed on the accounts department.

"The councillors should be exercising close oversight of spending and we would expect Cllr Dick Tonge, as cabinet member for finance, to stand down, and Baroness Scott as leader of the council also to consider her position."

Cllr Gordon King said: “It’s shocking that the budget is so far in deficit already, not too far into the budget year.

​“One of the main reasons for the overspend, I believe, is due to the overuse of agency staff in children’s social care, instead of properly qualified staff, as agency staff are more expensive.

"There are a number of other factors including legal services and mismanagement.

“It’s usual for the council to be over budget by around £1.5 million and that sum could probably be clawed back over the year, but it’s highly unlikely it’ll be managed with an overspend of £8 million already.”