By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Mansfield District Council is hoping to close a £5m budget gap over the next three years by closing public toilets, cutting culture budgets and reducing events.
The Labour-run authority is proposing a wide range of cuts alongside a 2.99 per cent council tax rise for the next three years and a 7.7 per cent increase in social housing rents.
The proposed budget includes £2.2m of savings in the 2024/25 financial year, reaching a total of £5m by 2026/27.
The culture budget would be cut by £132,000, including reduced opening hours at Mansfield Museum, and the events budget would be slashed by £99,000.
Public toilets in Warsop and Mansfield Woodhouse would be closed, saving £25,000.
Markets would receive £24,000 less per year, and floral displays in the town centre would be cut back as the Neighbourhood Services programme received £59,000 less.
The plan proposes a one-off use of £221,000 from the reserves in the next financial year.
Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams (Lab) said the council has “tough choices” to keep financial stability, but insisted it wasn’t “all doom and gloom.”
Like authorities across the country, Mansfield is facing pressure from the cost of living crisis, inflation and reduced government funding.
Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “It has been well documented that we have some tough choices to make so that the council has long-term financially stability. Like many councils, Mansfield has experienced a reduction in government funding, coupled with the increased inflation and costs of delivering services, we must find efficiencies.
“It means that we have to reduce services and apply our resources so that we can continue to provide the essential services that are most needed in our communities.”
He added: “It isn’t all doom and gloom. There is a huge amount of opportunity for the council to deliver various significant grant-funded projects.
“We remain optimistic for the future and the people of Mansfield should feel confident that Mansfield District Council is ready for the challenge and is able to deliver the changes needed.”
Councillor Andre Camilleri, the Conservative group leader, said: “These are difficult times and a lot of difficult decisions have to be made. We don’t want to end up like Nottingham City Council.
“However, the Conservatives wouldn’t have made some of the decisions which are proposed like the closure of public toilets. We are meeting tonight (January 8) to decide which amendments we will table to the budget.
“Unfortunately, there is just no money, which is partly due to the fact Mansfield has only raised council tax a few times in the last 20 years. It isn’t necessarily down to government cuts.
“There have also been some questionable investment decisions by the council such as the purchase of Beales and the properties in London which it has to pay insurance on constantly.”
A survey completed by 465 residents last year found they would prefer cuts to events and leisure, but didn’t want changes which would compromise public safety.
The proposal will go before Cabinet in a public meeting on January 15, and will then be sent to full council on January 23.
