Manchester Lib Dem leader Marc Ramsbottom wrote to me yesterday regarding an article in this week’s Manchester Evening News. He said, “You will have probably seen the article in yesterdays evening news about ‘further’ cuts planned for Manchester. This is just pure scaremongering and speculation yet again.” Marc went on to say;

“The article is based on the Budget Council report going to (the Council) Exec tomorrow and here are a few keys headlines and reason why its misleading you need to be aware of:

1. Every year the Council claims to need to spend more money on services as it sets it budget.

2. Every year there is a funding and a short fall that needs to be filled.

3. In past years, these were always counted as ‘efficiency savings’ now they are counted in with Govt cuts.

4. The figures in the report after 2013 are speculation based on likely spending cuts after 2013 to council budget across the country.

5. The possible cuts from Govt after 2013 might amount to 5p in every pound that the Council spends.

6. This amounts in total to about £25m. The total Council spends in £545.5m.

7. The rest of the cuts £55m is extra spending that the Council would like to spend but does have the money for.

8. Spending money you don’t have is not the same as a cut.

9. I might like to do my shopping at Waitrose every week, but I don’t because I have to live within a budget – that’s not a cut!

10. Manchester still gets the second highest amount of Govt grant in country – that’s after the cuts.”