North Tyneside’s new Mayor pledges further investment for the borough
North Tyneside’s new Mayor has vowed no difficult decisions will be “ducked” in trying financial times as she pledges to bring further regeneration to the area.
The newly-elected Mayor of North Tyneside, Karen Clark says the authority is grappling with 14 years of austerity culminating in a £500m real-terms loss of government funding.
One of the council’s latest cost-cutting measures included a phased reduction of 200 jobs through voluntary severance, in an effort to save £6.5m on its wage bill.
When asked on how the council will continue to deliver services and what comes next for North Tyneside, Mayor Clark said: “We are, alongside other local authorities up and down the country, facing significant financial pressures and challenges on our budgets and indeed many local authorities have had to declare bankruptcy.
“We have in real terms, lost nearly £500m on our budget here in North Tyneside over the last 14 years under the former Conservative government.
“So our services have been under significant pressure. We’ve been continually reviewing our budgets looking at ways to make savings.
“In fact, one the first things I have done since coming into office is implement a full in-depth review of all council budgets across all council areas, leaving no stone un-turned, to ensure we are identifying savings wherever possible.”
With regards to council services, Mayor Clark went on to praise existing council departments, including its children’s services which is one of only seven deemed ‘outstanding’ in the country.
The Mayor also cited the ongoing regeneration of North Shields, Wallsend, and Whitely Bay as recent examples of positive investment in North Tyneside.
The council’s strategy also now includes obtaining external investment for the regeneration of the North West of North Tyneside, including areas such as Camperdown.
Mayor Clark added: “I want to ensure residents of North Tyneside that I have a a robust savings, investment, and efficiency plan in place over the four years of my terms of office.
There will be challenges there will be difficult decision along the way, there will be no ducking those, it is part and parcel of this role and responsibility.”
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