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Council facing 'unpopular' cuts Council facing 'unpopular' cuts
(about 10 hours later)
Social services could face £1m cuts from April, as an under-fire council puts in place its action plan to improve education.Social services could face £1m cuts from April, as an under-fire council puts in place its action plan to improve education.
Denbighshire Council plans to spend more than half of its budget rise to deal with failing education services.Denbighshire Council plans to spend more than half of its budget rise to deal with failing education services.
The council's cabinet, which meets later, wants to keep council tax rises low but said this will involve "difficult and unpopular decisions". The council's cabinet, which met earlier, wants to keep council tax rises low but said this will involve "difficult and unpopular decisions".
Reducing opening times for libraries and leisure centres may also follow. No decision was made on Tuesday and the cabinet will meet again on 5 February.
The council faces a "below average" funding settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government.The council faces a "below average" funding settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government.
It said improving schools and education - which were criticised by watchdog Estyn - remains its priority for 2008-2009 and will account for 58% of its budget increase.It said improving schools and education - which were criticised by watchdog Estyn - remains its priority for 2008-2009 and will account for 58% of its budget increase.
A report to cabinet members includes the possibility of cutting spending on social services by £1m.A report to cabinet members includes the possibility of cutting spending on social services by £1m.
The county's education services were severely criticised by schools watchdog Estyn in September 2007, which led to former council leader Rhiannon Hughes being ousted.The county's education services were severely criticised by schools watchdog Estyn in September 2007, which led to former council leader Rhiannon Hughes being ousted.
The schools action plan was put forward in DecemberThe schools action plan was put forward in December
The authority was later forced to submit an action plan for school improvement to the assembly government.The authority was later forced to submit an action plan for school improvement to the assembly government.
A report to be discussed on Tuesday says that Denbighshire's funding allocation from the assembly government between now and 2011 is below inflation, and cuts have to be made in order to avoid a high council tax increase. A report discussed on Tuesday says that Denbighshire's funding allocation from the assembly government between now and 2011 is below inflation, and cuts have to be made in order to avoid a high council tax increase.
Of an additional spending budget of £1.75m for 2008-2009, at least £860,000 will be allocated to improving schools and education services.Of an additional spending budget of £1.75m for 2008-2009, at least £860,000 will be allocated to improving schools and education services.
The report states that cuts in spending were "the only way" to deliver a low council tax increase.The report states that cuts in spending were "the only way" to deliver a low council tax increase.
It adds: "The most significant of these relates to social services."It adds: "The most significant of these relates to social services."
'Desire''Desire'
Plans for spending £1.5m had been submitted, reflecting the growing number of elderly people and people with learning disabilities, but it is now proposed to spend only a third of that.Plans for spending £1.5m had been submitted, reflecting the growing number of elderly people and people with learning disabilities, but it is now proposed to spend only a third of that.
"Therefore social services will, in effect, have to make cuts of £1m in addition to the efficiency savings already identified," said the report."Therefore social services will, in effect, have to make cuts of £1m in addition to the efficiency savings already identified," said the report.
Cuts are also being considered in tourism, leisure and culture.Cuts are also being considered in tourism, leisure and culture.
This includes reducing opening times at all libraries and leisure centres - with the possibility of cutting Corwen leisure centre's opening hours in half.This includes reducing opening times at all libraries and leisure centres - with the possibility of cutting Corwen leisure centre's opening hours in half.
Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, cabinet lead member for finance, said the desire to see a low council tax increase meant "the need to cut expenditure in some areas of the council's activity in a way that will involve difficult and unpopular decisions."Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, cabinet lead member for finance, said the desire to see a low council tax increase meant "the need to cut expenditure in some areas of the council's activity in a way that will involve difficult and unpopular decisions."
The council will receive a grant increase of 2.2% from the assembly government in 2008-2009, compared to the Welsh average of 2.4%.The council will receive a grant increase of 2.2% from the assembly government in 2008-2009, compared to the Welsh average of 2.4%.
There were also below average rises for the following two years.There were also below average rises for the following two years.
Last month, an action plan was put forward to the assembly government and Estyn to raise school standards. A Denbighshire County Council said the cabinet needed to look "in more detail" at the options before meeting again on 5 February.
Their recommendations will then be discussed by full council on 12 February.
Last month, an action plan was put forward to the assembly government and Estyn to raise school standards in Denbighshire.
It included £290,000 to help raise standards at GCSE level, £120,000 for the appointment of three more members of a school improvement team and another £170,000 to help improve pupils' behaviour and reduce exclusion rates.It included £290,000 to help raise standards at GCSE level, £120,000 for the appointment of three more members of a school improvement team and another £170,000 to help improve pupils' behaviour and reduce exclusion rates.
The Estyn report highlighted poor communication and "ineffective" political leadership at the council and found below average performance at ages seven, 11 and 16.The Estyn report highlighted poor communication and "ineffective" political leadership at the council and found below average performance at ages seven, 11 and 16.
Meanwhile, Ceredigion councillors meet later to discuss the authority's council tax rise and budget settlement for the next financial year.
Ministers have said over the next three years, assembly government spending will reach £16bn - more than double the £7bn when the assembly was created in 1999.Ministers have said over the next three years, assembly government spending will reach £16bn - more than double the £7bn when the assembly was created in 1999.
But they warned of "tough" decisions due to less cash coming to them from the UK Government. .But they warned of "tough" decisions due to less cash coming to them from the UK Government. .