Government cuts to councils 'make you shudder' - councillor
A councillor has said government cuts to Shropshire Council "make you shudder".
Councillor Brian Williams also told the authority's audit committee he would question how councils could balance budgets in future if cuts are increased.
Members of the committee were discussing an income report update which was presented to councillors.
In the report, it says the revenue support grant in 2013/14 was more than £67m, but this financial year it is £13m and by 2020/21 it will be removed completely.
The report says: "Revenue support grant is a central government grant given to local authorities which can be used to finance revenue expenditure on any service.
"The amount of revenue support grant to be provided to authorities is established through the local government finance settlement and distributed according to assessed need.
"As a result of austerity plans local authorities have seen a continued reduction in revenue support grant which in 2013/14 stood at over £67m and by 2018/19 will have fallen to £13m."
Councillor Williams added: "When you factor in inflation, it makes you realise why the pressures are on this council so greatly in terms of getting a balanced budget.
"From £67 million to £13 million is an enormous reduction, it just makes you shudder, to think if they reduced it any further, how on earth would any authority balance its budget?"
